Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Sk 44Swinging the Arms (2nd)

Explanation of the Dutiyabāhuppacālaka Sutta (Swinging the Arms a Second Time)

Background

The Dutiyabāhuppacālaka Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, one of the three basic divisions of the Pāli Canon. The Vinaya Piṭaka records the training rules that the Buddha established for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs in order to maintain discipline and purity in the Sangha.

This sutta is found in the Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga, the analysis of the rules for bhikkhus, specifically in the Saikkhādhamma section, the things to be learned. The context of the sutta concerns bodily actions or gestures that may cause discomfort or disturbance to others in the community of practice.

The word “bāhuppacālaka” means “swinging the arms” (bāhu = arm, uppacālaka = swinging or waving). The repetition “dutiya” (second) indicates that this is a rule or situation mentioned a second time in the Vinaya texts.

Main Content

Although the specific content of this sutta has not been fully translated in commonly available Pāli Canon materials, based on the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, it is very likely to concern rules on proper behavior when swinging or moving the arms in specific situations.

In the Buddha’s Vinaya rules, even actions that seem minor but may disturb others are given attention. For example, swinging the arms carelessly may knock over someone else’s belongings, cause agitation, or create distraction during meditation. Therefore, the Vinaya Piṭaka requires bhikkhus to act consciously, firmly (daḷha), and with mindfulness (sati).

This rule reflects the general principle of the Vinaya: every action of a bhikkhu should be regulated in order to maintain purity (pārisuddhi), protect the reputation of the Sangha, and avoid troubling others. This is an expression of the ethics of loving-kindness (mettā) and communal benefit (samaggavihāratā).