Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Sk 40Clasping Knees
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pallatthika
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SUTTA ON CLASPING THE KNEES (PALLATTHIKA)
Background
In the system of the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, the Pallatthika Sutta is part of the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the discipline reserved for bhikkhunīs. Theravāda Buddhism places special emphasis on maintaining discipline in the fourfold community: bhikkhus, bhikkhunīs, upāsakas, and upāsikās. This sutta was composed after the Blessed One allowed the establishment of the bhikkhunī order, and it was formulated to guide women monastics in a life of purity and proper conduct.
The title “clasping the knees” (Pallatthika) refers to a specific posture or action involving the body in the context of disciplinary instruction. In the environment of practice, postures, movements, and the handling of the body are regarded as reflecting one’s degree of cultivation and reverence for the Dharma.
Main Content
The Pallatthika Sutta in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga discusses regulations concerning bodily conduct and related behavior, especially in the context of maintaining modesty (parisuddhi) and avoiding actions that could lead to suspicion or error. The postures that bhikkhunīs assume during practice, chanting, or training sessions must all follow proper principles.
According to the Theravāda tradition, the conduct of a practitioner is assessed not only on the basis of inner intention but also according to how that conduct appears outwardly. This sutta emphasizes that even postures or movements that seem harmless need attention, because they may create an improper impression or cause discomfort for others in the community of practice.
Specifically, the regulations in this sutta instruct bhikkhunīs that the body must be kept properly. Postures such as pallatthika, an action connected with drawing the feet together or a manner of sitting, must accord with the standards set forth by the Blessed One. This is part of saddhā, faith in the Dharma, and reverence for the practices.
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