Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Sk 36Arms Akimbo (2nd)

Dutiyakhambhakata Sutta (Arms Akimbo the Second Time)

Context

The Dutiyakhambhakata Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, one of the three principal baskets of the Pāli Canon in the Early Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka is a collection of rules and principles on training and discipline for the Sangha, taught by the Buddha Gotama to protect the purity and long-term development of the community of those gone forth.

The Pāli title "Dutiyakhambhakata" literally means "arms akimbo the second time" (dutiya = second time; khambhakata = arms akimbo, making a pose with the arms). This describes a specific bodily action that bhikkhunīs or bhikkhus need to avoid in certain circumstances. This sutta belongs among the detailed rules concerning the conduct, way of life, and proper attitude of those gone forth according to the Buddha-Dharma.

Main Content

The specific content of the Dutiyakhambhakata Sutta concerns a bodily action not considered dignified or appropriate to the character of one gone forth. Specifically, this sutta stipulates that nuns should not keep their hands on their hips (khambhakata) habitually or in certain contexts, especially when interacting with those outside the Sangha or in formal circumstances.

The action of standing with "arms akimbo" is regarded as a gesture expressing arrogance, disrespect, or lack of concentration. In the context of Buddhist practice, every bodily gesture has meaning and reflects the inner state of mind. These regulations are not meaningless rules; they express a deeper principle: propriety, humility, and respect in daily interactions.

This sutta states the rule a second time (dutiya), showing that the Buddha needed to remind people of this matter repeatedly because of its importance in maintaining communal discipline.

Practical Meaning

The Dutiyakhambhakata Sutta teaches us that the practice of the Buddha-Dharma is not only concerned with mind and wisdom, but also includes every gesture of the body.