Lzh Mu Bu Vb Pc 48Hitting
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pahāra
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PAHĀRA DISCOURSE - INTERPRETIVE RENDERING ACCORDING TO THE THERAVĀDA VINAYA
Background
The rule concerning the bodily action “Pahāra” (striking, hitting) appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically in the Pātimokkha section of the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga. It is one of the training rules intended to protect harmony in the Buddhadharma community and to encourage mutual respect among members.
This body of text was compiled on the basis of specific events in the history of the Sangha during the Buddha’s time, when issues of discipline and management of the monastic community arose. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not a collection of Dharma discourses on lofty truths, but practical guidance that helps the Sangha function with discipline, consistency, and mutual respect. The rule concerning “not striking, not hitting” reflects a basic principle of the Buddhadharma: compassion, non-harming, and respect for the life and body of others.
Main Content
The Pahāra rule prohibits acts of physical violence, such as striking or hitting the body of another member of the Sangha. Whether done in anger or with the intention of instruction, such an action is considered a violation of the training rules (Sikkhāpada).
According to the typical structure of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this rule is explained through three elements: (1) the originating event, often connected with specific conflicts in the community; (2) the Buddha’s instruction prohibiting this action; (3) exceptions or mitigating circumstances, if any.
This rule is not only about avoiding physical harm. It also reflects a deeper spiritual aspect: restraint of the self (khama), overcoming anger (kodha), and cultivating restraint of mind (cittasaṃvara). A monk or bhikkhu fully trains in this conduct from a peaceful and compassionate mind, not from fear or external compulsion.
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