Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Sk 34Arms Akimbo
Pāli / Sanskrit:Khambhakata
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The Khambhakata Sutta (Arms Akimbo)
Background
The Khambhakata Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma, within the regulations concerning deportment (ācāra) of the Sangha. This is not a discourse teaching lofty Dharma doctrine, but a concrete disciplinary rule concerning the gestures and attitudes of those who have gone forth under the Buddha.
In the early period of the Buddha-Dharma, the Buddha not only taught the Dharma but also guided the Sangha in how to live in accordance with proper ethics. Every action and every bodily movement was carefully considered, because they reflect the degree of self-awareness, diligence, and respect for the Dharma of the practitioner. The Khambhakata Sutta refers to one of the behaviors considered inconsistent with the spirit of alertness and purity in the holy life.
Main Content
The term "Khambhakata" (Khambha = arm; Kata = placed or set) describes a deportment not permitted in the Sangha: standing or sitting with arms akimbo, that is, placing the hands on the waist or hips in a manner that appears overly self-confident or expresses a defiant and undisciplined attitude.
The Vinaya Piṭaka states that bhikkhus should not perform this action on formal occasions, when meeting laypeople, or in other important settings. The deeper reason for this rule is to maintain the image of a true monastic: diligent, modest, without arrogance or display. The gesture of arms akimbo is regarded as an expression of self-satisfaction, lack of refinement, or even mockery.
This rule is found among the "Sekhiyavatthu" (training rules), subtle requirements concerning deportment that help practitioners train the mind and preserve the noble image of the Sangha before society.
Practical Meaning
Although it is a small rule within the whole Vinaya Piṭaka, the Khambhakata Sutta has profound meaning. It reminds us that Buddhism is not concerned only with mental activity, but also with how we express that state of mind through the body.
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