Lzh Mi Bi Vb Sk 98Holding a Knife

Explanation of the Satthapāṇi Sutra (Holding a Knife)

Background

The Satthapāṇi sutra belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the independent division containing rules of the path and monastic discipline within the Buddha's Teaching. This sutra is recorded in the Vibhaṅga, the detailed analysis, of the bhikkhunī rules, reflecting specific situations that arose in the early community of nuns.

The title "Satthapāṇi" (holding a knife, from "sattha" = knife, "pāṇi" = hand/holding) indicates an incident related to holding or using a sharp tool. In the context of the Early Vinaya Pitaka, these texts often deal with specific actions that monastics should not perform or actions disputed as to their validity under the discipline.

The Buddha established the Vinaya rules not in order to impose, but to protect the purity of the monastic community, maintain internal discipline, and reduce abuses or unauthentic conduct. Each text in the Vibhaṅga has a specific story leading to the establishment of a rule.

Main Content

The specific content of this sutra has not yet been fully translated in the available materials. However, based on the structure of the Early Vinaya Pitaka, the Satthapāṇi sutra may relate to the holding or use of knives or sharp tools by nuns.

In the rules for bhikkhunīs, the Buddha often prohibited actions that could endanger one's own life or the lives of others. Actions such as holding a knife, cutting hair carelessly, or using sharp instruments without a suitable purpose are regarded as violations of the discipline.

The structure of this sutra in the Early tradition usually includes: (1) the event or action that occurred; (2) the Buddha's judgment; (3) the establishment of the training rule (sikkhāpada); and (4) exceptions or specific conditions under which the action may be accepted.