Lzh Mu Bi Pm Pc 33Hitting

PAHĀRA DISCOURSE (STRIKING)

Background

The Pahāra discourse is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha (the basic code) of the Theravāda school. The Pātimokkha is a collection of ethical rules that bhikkhus must observe, arranged according to different degrees of offense. The Pahāra discourse concerns the act of hitting or physically attacking, an act that creates legal consequences within the Sangha community.

The historical formation of these rules arose from specific situations in the Buddha’s time. When inappropriate conduct occurred, the Buddha would establish a rule to prevent it in the future. This shows his practical compassion, indicating that the Buddha-Dharma is not a set of abstract principles but practical guidance for the life of the community that propagates the Dharma.

Main Content

The Pahāra rule forbids bhikkhus from striking or attacking another person, whether that person is a bhikkhu or an outsider. Physical attack is a serious violation, because it directly violates the discipline of harmony and respect for fellow practitioners.

In the Pātimokkha, offenses are classified according to severity. Pahāra is usually considered in terms of whether the act causes physical harm, the degree of harm, and the offender’s motive. If one strikes another person and causes bleeding or significant injury, this may be a Pārājika offense or a Saṅghādisesa offense depending on the context.

However, the principle is never entirely absolute. The Buddha-Dharma considers context, motive, and result. A bhikkhu protecting another person from danger may be weighed differently from someone acting out of confusion or frustration. But in general, the use of violence contradicts the path of mental cultivation, compassion, and nonviolence (ahiṃsā) taught by the Buddha.

This rule also reflects a profound vision of the relation between mind and action. When a bhikkhu strikes someone, his mind is governed by hatred (dosa), one of the three poisons (lobha, dosa, moha).