Lzh Mi Bu Pm Sk 98Holding a Knife
Pāli / Sanskrit:Satthapāṇi
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
THE DISCOURSE ON HOLDING A KNIFE - SATTHAPĀṆI
Background
The Satthapāṇi discourse, “Holding a Knife,” appears in the Vinaya, in the Pātimokkha subdivision of the Theravāda tradition. This is the section regulating prohibited conduct for bhikkhus, in order to maintain Saṅgha discipline and protect the purity of Buddhism. This discourse was first recorded when the Buddha taught his disciples about the things to avoid in the life of renunciation.
The historical context shows that during the Buddha’s lifetime, bhikkhus needed specific guidance for practice in a complex environment. The Satthapāṇi discourse was given by the Buddha to prevent dangerous actions that might harm the spiritual and physical welfare of oneself and others. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not a set of arbitrary controls, but democratic guidance discussed and recognized by the Saṅgha.
Main Content
The Satthapāṇi discourse regulates the holding of sharp tools, especially knives, swords, and dangerous implements. According to this rule, a bhikkhu is not permitted to carry knives, blades, or weapons that could cause injury without a valid reason.
This rule includes specific cases: holding a knife for legitimate work, such as cutting vegetables or chopping wood for a monastery, is permitted, but holding a knife with the intention to harm, or in readiness for violence, is not permitted. The key point lies in the motive (cetanā) and intention behind the action. If a bhikkhu holds a knife without any intention to harm, the fault is lighter or there is no fault. Conversely, if there is an intention to injure, especially to threaten or harm life, this is a serious violation.
This discourse also addresses borderline situations: holding a knife in a situation of self-defense or protection of the community is considered differently from holding a knife for the purpose of attack. The rule emphasizes that a bhikkhu must always be aware of the presence of a dangerous tool and manage it carefully, avoiding false alarms or situations that cause misunderstanding.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.