Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Sk 50Swaying (2nd)

Dutiyakāyappacālaka Sutta (The Second Swaying of the Body)

Background

The Dutiyakāyappacālaka Sutta belongs to the Sikkhāpadavibhaṅga, the explanation of the training rules, in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, which establishes the discipline of practice for bhikkhus. “Dutiya” means “second,” while “Kāyappacālaka” is related to “the swaying of the body,” “moving the body in a suggestive way,” or an action that attracts the eye.

This sutta was brought forth by the court of the Sangha to warn bhikkhus about actions not in accord with the ethics of a Buddhist practitioner. The historical context shows that the Buddha had to remind his disciples many times of the need to maintain chastity (Brahmacariya), especially in relations between the sexes. The rules in the Vinaya Piṭaka were formed through specific incidents: when bhikkhus transgressed, the Buddha laid down rules to prevent similar conduct.

Main Content

Dutiyakāyappacālaka deals with suggestive actions or unchaste ways of behaving toward women; it is the second instance, or second degree, of offenses involving the swaying of the body. This sutta belongs to the Pāṭimokkha system, the 227 or 220 basic disciplinary rules depending on the school, specifically within the Saṅghādisesa, offenses requiring acknowledgment before the Sangha.

This rule states that a bhikkhu must not intentionally sway, turn, or perform actions with suggestive intent in front of women, especially women who are not yet of age or with the purpose of drawing them into unchaste relations. “Second” may indicate more complex actions, or the repetition of similar conduct after having been warned.

Observance of this rule is not merely a matter of formal discipline, but also a foundation for protecting the Buddhist teaching from misunderstanding, maintaining the honor of the Sangha, and protecting women from harm. This rule reflects the principle of Brahmacariya, the noble life of chastity, which is central to Buddhism.