San Lo Bu Pm Sk 36Licking the Hands

Explanation of the Hatthanillehaka Discourse (Licking the Hands)

Background

The Hatthanillehaka discourse (Licking the Hands) is part of the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Pāli Canon of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka records the training rules (Patimokkha) that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs must observe in order to maintain the sanctity of the Sangha.

This discourse appears in the context of the Buddha’s management and construction of a training system for the community of disciples. Rather than simply defining compensations or punishments, the Vinaya Piṭaka often includes illustrative stories (Aniruddha Katha) to explain the reason behind each prohibition. The story of “Licking the Hands” is a typical example of how the Buddha educated bhikkhus through specific actions in order to reveal hidden bad habits and their roots.

Main Content

The discourse tells of bhikkhus who had the habit of licking their hands or fingers after eating rice or food. At first glance, this action may seem like a way of saving food or simple hygiene, but it reflects a deeper psychology: greed (lobha), lack of contentment, and isolation around material gain in food.

The Buddha saw that this action was not suitable for the mind of a bhikkhu. A renunciant should have a mind unattached to offerings and gains, not desiring to maximize personal benefit from food. Licking the hands in order to “reuse” what remains shows a mind not yet purified of greed.

Although brief, this discourse contains a profound lesson about care with subtle actions (anu-śīla) and the practice of mindfulness in daily activities. It reflects a basic principle: every action, however small, has meaning and reveals the practitioner’s state of mind.

Practical Meaning

The Hatthanillehaka discourse teaches us about “patience” (khantikatam) and “restraint of the mind” (indriya-samvara) in Theravāda Buddhism.