Lzh Mg Bi Vb Sk 26Swinging the Arms
Pāli / Sanskrit:Bāhuppacālaka
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Sutta Bāhuppacālaka — On Swinging the Arms
Background
The Bāhuppacālaka Sutta (Pāli: bāhu = hand/arm, uppacālaka = swinging/waving) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of Theravāda Buddhism, specifically in the Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga or comparable sections of monastic regulation. It is a detailed rule of discipline concerning the bodily conduct of bhikkhus within the monastic Saṅgha.
According to the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a collection of rigid prohibitions but a guide to practice that helps bhikkhus and bhikkhuṇīs maintain mindfulness over mind, action, and speech. This sutta appears in the context of the Buddha and his disciples cultivating the practice within the Saṅgha, where every action carries educational significance.
Principal Content
The Bāhuppacālaka Sutta sets forth regulations concerning the swinging or waving of the arms in various circumstances. Specifically, this rule pertains to the conduct of a bhikkhu who swings his arms, particularly in situations that may give rise to undesirable consequences or constitute a breach of monastic discipline.
The situations addressed include: swinging the arms in the course of work, the manner of moving one's arms while walking, as well as unintentional or intentional arm movements that may cause annoyance, distraction, or harm to others. This rule emphasizes that even actions seemingly insignificant — such as swinging the arms — reflect the mental state of the practitioner and affect the shared environment of monastic cultivation.
Through this regulation, the Buddha guides his disciples to recognize that bodily actions are never without meaning. Every movement of the body is an expression of mind and intention, and the restraint of physical action is an essential part of monastic virtue within the Saṅgha.
Practical Significance
The Bāhuppacālaka Sutta teaches us that the practice of the Buddhadharma does not cease at mind or speech, but must encompass bodily action as well. The restraint of small movements such as the swinging of arms reflects the degree of mindfulness and self-control attained by the practitioner.
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