Lzh Mu Bu Vb Pc 49Raising a Hand

Interpretive Rendering of the Talasattika Discourse (Lzh Mu Bu Vb Pc 49)

Background

Talasattika, or “Raising the Hand,” is a regulation in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. This discourse is found in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the analysis of the bhikkhunī rules, specifically in the Pācittiya section, the training rules requiring acknowledgement and confession.

The background of this rule concerns the act of waking bhikkhunīs in the morning. In monasteries during the Buddha’s time, calling bhikkhunīs to practice was a daily task, often carried out by signals or verbal calling. The Talasattika rule was established to avoid actions that could cause discomfort or disrespect among bhikkhunīs.

Main Content

According to this rule, if a bhikkhunī wants to wake another bhikkhunī, she should not raise her hand and slap the other person, especially on the face, neck, or sensitive parts of the body. The act of raising the hand and slapping roughly is regarded as disrespectful and as a violation of the principle of loving-kindness (mettā) in the Vinaya.

Specifically, if a bhikkhunī wakes another bhikkhunī by raising her hand to slap her, or by doing something similar that causes irritation, she commits a Pācittiya offense, a fault requiring confession before the community. The emphasis of this rule is not on the act of waking someone, but on the manner in which it is done: it must be carried out with respect and kindness.

This rule expresses a broader principle in the Vinaya: respect for the bodies of others and avoidance of actions that cause pain or insult. This accords with the first of the five precepts (Pañca Sīla) and the ten precepts: not harming any living being.

Meaning for Practice

Talasattika is not only a basic rule of conduct in the monastery, but also a profound lesson in respect and non-harming. For bhikkhunīs, this rule reminds them that practice of the Buddhadharma requires patience and careful reflection before each action.