Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Dh Sk 99Clasping Knees
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pallatthika
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THE DISCOURSE ON FOLDING THE KNEES (PALLATTHIKA)
Background
The Discourse on Folding the Knees belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, one of the canonical collections of regulations governing the conduct of the four assemblies of disciples. This discourse records an event that arose in the community of monks and nuns, when a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī violated a rule of decorum, prompting the Buddha to instruct the community in careful standards concerning how to stand, sit, and move.
According to the spirit of the Vinaya Piṭaka, each rule arises from a specific incident, after which the Buddha gives an instruction to protect moral discipline and preserve the dignity of the Sangha. The Discourse on Folding the Knees reflects this aim: to guide monastics in maintaining the body respectfully, especially in sitting posture, an important aspect of Buddhist practice.
Main Content
This discourse concerns the act of “folding the knees” (pallatthika), that is, kneeling or sitting with the legs folded beneath the two sides of the buttocks. This is not a posture absolutely forbidden, but in certain circumstances, such as when teaching the Dharma, receiving guests, or being before others, the action is considered lacking in dignity, disrespectful, or inappropriate to the status of monks and nuns.
The Vinaya Piṭaka emphasizes that sitting posture should be dignified. A virtuous monastic must express respect through the whole body. A bhikkhu or bhikkhunī should sit upright, with the two legs beneath (asanabhoga), or with one leg folded (ekapallaṅka), postures regarded as displaying dignity, especially when in the midst of many people or when fulfilling the role of instruction.
This discourse reflects a broad principle in the Vinaya Piṭaka: the outward conduct of monks and nuns must accord with the inner practice. The body is an expression of the mind, and the ways we sit, stand, and walk are opportunities to cultivate mindfulness and dignity.
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