Lzh Mu Bi Vb Pc 33Hitting
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pahāra
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Exposition of the Pahāra Rule (Hitting)
Background
The Pahāra rule is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, especially in the Pātimokkhasutta, the basic code for monastics. This text records rules concerning the act of striking another person within the monastic community, laid down by the Buddha to protect harmony, compassion, and internal discipline.
According to the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is the moral foundation of monastic life. Each rule was established not to impose control but to educate, helping practitioners understand the causes and consequences of action. The Pahāra rule specifically addresses one of the behaviors that most directly violates basic decorum and compassion within the community.
Main Content
The Pahāra rule concerns the fault of hitting another person, an action contrary to the first principle of the Five Buddhist Precepts: not killing, not causing harm. In the monastic context, this action is not only a violation of personal ethics but also destroys trust and harmony in the Sangha body.
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, a practitioner who strikes another person must undergo penalties or penance (parivāsa) according to the degree of the offense: from confessing the fault, to a prescribed period of reflection, and even exclusion from the community if the act is too grave.
The important point is that the Buddha did not call for punishment in a vindictive way, but aimed at correction. The offender must:
(1) Acknowledge the wrong action,
(2) Understand the causes that led to anger and hatred,
(3) Cultivate kindness in order to restore the damaged relationship.
This rule also reflects a deeper purpose: to regulate the mind, restrain unwholesome states (akusala dhamma) such as anger and jealousy, and nourish wholesome qualities (kusala dhamma) such as compassion and mettā.
Practical Meaning
For those practicing the early Theravāda path, the Pahāra rule is not an odd “prohibition,” but a profound reminder. The act of hitting arises from a restless mind, anger, hatred, and loss of self-control; these are among the greatest obstacles on the path of practice.
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