Upp Pc 50Hitting
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pahāra
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Explanation of the Pahāra Sutta (The Discourse on Hitting)
Background
The Pahāra Sutta belongs to the Paccaya Khaṇḍa, the section on conditions, in the Suttavibhaṅga of the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka. This is one of the regulations concerning direct physically harmful conduct between monks, and Buddhism greatly values discipline and respect within the monastic community.
The background of this text arose from incidents at Jetavana. Monks lacking concentration or governed by afflictions engaged in fighting and injured one another. The Buddha, understanding that the Sangha community needed clear rules to maintain harmony and focus on practice, established the regulation concerning this conduct. The Pahāra Sutta therefore reflects the wisdom of the Buddha-Dharma in handling interpersonal conflict and protecting the integrity of the Sangha.
Main Content
The Pahāra Sutta sets out the rule concerning hitting (Pahāra, derived from the root pahāṇati, meaning “to strike, attack”). According to the regulation in the Suttavibhaṅga, if a monk hits another monk, the act is considered under different conditions depending on purpose, degree of harm, and the response of the one who was hit.
The rule does not simply prohibit every act of striking, but considers complex legal factors: whether the monk had the intention to cause harm (cetanā), whether the act actually caused injury (upaddava), and whether it is confirmed by testimony. A case of striking with a good intention, such as preventing wrong conduct, is treated differently from a case of striking out of anger or hatred.
The legal consequences may range from confession (desanā) to heavier penalties, depending on the nature of the violation. This expresses the principle of the Buddhist Vinaya: not eradication, but correction, education, and the restoration of the monk’s integrity.
Practical Meaning
The Pahāra Sutta is not merely a rule of conduct, but concerns the nature of the bodhisattva path, respect for the lives of others.
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