Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Sk 101Holding a Sword
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na khaḍgapāṇa
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The Sutra on Holding a Sword (Na khaḍgapāṇa)
Background
The Sutra on Holding a Sword appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Bhikkhu Pātimokkha, the code of discipline for bhikkhus. This sutra was recorded in the context of the Buddha Gotama teaching his disciples at Sāvatthī or elsewhere in ancient India.
The title “Holding a Sword” reflects a specific regulation concerning bhikkhus holding weapons. In the spirit of the Vinaya Piṭaka, these rules are not arbitrary restrictions but instructions that protect the purity of Buddhist faith and maintain the diligent conduct of those who have gone forth. This sutra serves the purpose of protecting the honor of the Sangha community and avoiding misunderstandings among the public.
Main Content
The Sutra on Holding a Sword prescribes that bhikkhus should not hold or carry a sword (khaḍga) or other sharp weapons. This rule arises from the basic Buddhist principle of avoiding killing and violence. Holding a sword not only indicates potential violent conduct, but also symbolizes a mind not yet tamed, not yet fully free from harmful tendencies.
The Vinaya Piṭaka emphasizes maintaining the authentic image of a practitioner, one who has gone forth to seek mental peace, not to seek power or to protect the body by weapons. Holding a sword would make bhikkhus appear like warriors or guards, thereby creating doubt about the true nature of the life of practice.
Those who violate this rule must undergo corresponding disciplinary measures according to the degree of the violation, from public admonition to other disciplinary actions within the Sangha community. This shows that early Buddhism placed importance on consistency between speech and action, and between inner cultivation and outward conduct.
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