Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Sk 102Holding a Sword
Pāli / Sanskrit:Na khaḍgapāṇa
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The Scripture on Holding a Sword (Na khaḍgapāṇa)
Context
This scripture is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically among the training rules of the bhikkhus. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of the Buddha's teachings concerning monastic discipline, formed during the development of the Sangha after the Buddha's awakening. Whenever a situation arose in the Sangha, the Buddha would set forth specific rules to guide his disciples in proper practice.
The scripture "Holding a Sword" concerns one of the basic prohibitions for bhikkhus: they must not own or hold sharp weapons. This is not a legendary tale or a profound philosophical discourse, but a practical regulation intended to protect the spiritual life of practitioners and maintain harmony in the religious community.
Main Content
The rule forbidding the holding of swords or sharp weapons (khaḍga) arises from a fundamental principle of the Buddha-Dharma: restraining ambition, violence, and fear. A bhikkhu has gone forth in search of liberation from suffering, not to own or use instruments of violence.
A sword symbolizes power, violence, and an aggressive disposition, all entirely contrary to the spirit of Buddhism. When one holds a sword, the mind of the practitioner is drawn toward desires for self-protection, killing enemies, or displaying strength. These currents of thought are roots of suffering, and the Buddha wished his disciples to be completely separated from them.
This rule also reflects the clear difference between a bhikkhu, one who has requested permission to leave the worldly life, and a warrior or guard. The prohibition against keeping weapons is the Buddha's reminder: when you enter the Sangha, you are no longer a warrior on a material battlefield; you are a warrior on the spiritual battlefield, where the only necessary weapons are mindfulness (sati), wisdom (paññā), and concentration (samādhi).
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