Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Sk 107Holding a Weapon
Pāli / Sanskrit:Āvudhapāṇi
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
The Sutta on Holding a Weapon (Āvudhapāṇi)
Background
The Sutta on Holding a Weapon (Āvudhapāṇi) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, reflecting the disciplinary regulations of the Buddhist Sangha in the early period. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a collection of rigid prohibitions, but rather practical guidelines that help monks and nuns maintain a pure, collected mind and avoid harmful conduct.
The matter of holding weapons was given attention by the Blessed One because it is directly related to the Five Precepts (Pañcasīla) — the ethical foundation of all Buddhists. Specifically, carrying or concealing weapons contradicts the Fifth Precept: one should not accumulate weapons or instruments of killing. For those who have gone forth into the renunciant life, this is emphasized all the more, since a monk has already relinquished household life and its contentions.
Main Content
The Sutta on Holding a Weapon prescribes that monks and nuns should not carry, conceal, or store instruments of killing such as swords, bows and arrows, or any weapons whatsoever. Such conduct is regarded as a violation of the fundamental principles of the contemplative life and contrary to the spirit of loving-kindness (mettā) that the Blessed One taught.
These detailed regulations do not arise from a spirit of harshness, but from the purpose of cultivating the inner life. When a renunciant resolves to practice in order to seek nirvana (Nibbāna), they must completely disengage from the mentality of protecting the self through violence. Carrying a weapon is a physical act that reflects a mind not yet liberated from fear and greed.
The Vinaya Piṭaka also notes that even carrying a weapon for reasons of "self-defense" or "protection of the monastery" is not permitted. This is because fear and the need to protect oneself are fundamental obstacles in the practice of concentration and wisdom.
🌏 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.