San Lo Bu Pm Pc 58Hitting

Explanation of San Lo Bu Pm Pc 58: Pahāra (On the Act of Hitting)

Background

In the Vinaya Piṭaka system of the Pāli Theravāda tradition, the Pahāra rule belongs to the fifty-eighth Pācittiya rule in the Saṅghādisesa section. This is one of the 227 precepts of a bhikkhu, established by the Buddha to maintain purity in the Sangha and to express the spirit of non-harming (ahiṃsā), the foundation of Buddhism.

This rule was established in the context of monastic life, where those gone forth live together. When disputes or discord arise, some may use physical violence to resolve conflict. The Blessed One, with profound wisdom, saw that the act of hitting not only violates the basic precepts but also creates evil karma, destroys the harmony of the Sangha, and causes laypeople to lose faith in the Triple Gem. Therefore, he established this rule to protect both the one who strikes and the one struck from serious physical and spiritual consequences.

Main Content

The specific content of the Pahāra rule states: any bhikkhu who intentionally strikes another bhikkhu must confess the Pācittiya offense. This is an offense that must be confessed before the Sangha in order to purify karmic obstruction.

According to the commentary tradition (Aṭṭhakathā), the act of "hitting" (pahāra) is understood as any form of physical contact with the intention to cause harm, whether light or severe. This includes punching, kicking, slapping, pushing, or using a hard object to strike. The factors constituting the offense include:

First, the object must be a bhikkhu who has been legally fully ordained. If a novice (Sāmaṇera) is struck, there is still an offense but it is lighter.

Second, there must be clear intention (cetanā). If it is unintentional or in an unavoidable situation, such as falling and accidentally touching someone, there is no offense.

Third, the action must be completed, that is, actual contact must occur. If one merely attempts to strike but does not make contact, the offense is lighter.

The Vinaya Piṭaka also makes a clear distinction: if the act of striking causes a Buddha to bleed, it is an extremely serious Ānantariya offense. If it causes serious injury to another bhikkhu, it may be related to a Saṅghādisesa or Pārājika offense depending on the degree.

Practical Meaning

The Pahāra rule is not merely a regulation but expresses a philosophy of non-harming, compassion (mettā), and patience (khanti), essential qualities on the path of liberation. A Buddhist monastic must be a living example of peace, restraining body, speech, and mind, and not allowing anger to dominate.

In the present age, when violence is increasing at every level of society, this teaching has deep meaning. Practitioners need to recognize more subtle forms of "hitting": harsh speech, contemptuous attitudes, or acts of exclusion, all of which violate the spirit of compassion.