Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Sk 92Not Teach Leaning on Someone’s Shoulder
Pāli / Sanskrit:Not teach leaning on someone’s shoulder
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Explanation of the Sutta “Not Teaching While Leaning on Another Person’s Shoulder”
Background
This text belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, a key division of the Pāli Canon. The Vinaya Pitaka is a collection of the rules of higher training (sīla) and communal discipline for monks and nuns that the Buddha Gotama established to maintain purity and harmony in the Sangha. The rules in the Vinaya Pitaka are not arbitrary commands, but arise from specific situations, mistakes, or improper actions of disciples, from which the Buddha set down rules for guidance.
The sutta “Not Teaching While Leaning on Another Person’s Shoulder” reflects a rule concerning attitude and method in teaching the Dharma. The title suggests a specific situation related to the manner of transmitting the Dharma, where the attitude of the teacher directly affects the integrity and efficacy of the teaching.
Main Content
In the context of the Vinaya Pitaka, this rule concerns a basic principle: when transmitting the Dharma (Dhamma), a monastic should not rely on the support or protection of another person in order to legitimize or defend his or her teaching. In other words, the teacher must personally take responsibility for his or her words and must not conceal or compromise the truth of the Dharma by seeking external support.
The phrase “leaning on another person’s shoulder” (ṭhatvā aññataraṃ puggalaṃ) symbolizes dependence on the authority, status, or influence of another person to protect or advance one’s views. This is an act that violates the integrity of the Dharma. Anyone who teaches the Buddha-Dharma must rely on accurate understanding of the Dharma and on one’s own practice, not on the support or protection of powerful people. This rule is especially important for monastics, who are entrusted with the responsibility of teaching and preserving the Dharma.
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