San Mg Bu Pm Sk 36Licking the Hands
Pāli / Sanskrit:Hatthanillehaka
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The Hatthanillehaka Sutta (Licking the Hands)
Explanation from the Pāli Vinaya Piṭaka
Background
The Hatthanillehaka Sutta is part of the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, specifically among the Sangha rules concerning the ethical conduct of bhikkhus. The title “Licking the Hands” (Hatthanillehaka) refers to a simple action that nevertheless has deep meaning concerning restraint and economy in the training life.
This sutta was recorded to deal with specific cases in the monastic community, where members might fall into even very subtle unwholesome conduct, though it seemed harmless. The background of the sutta is connected with the need to maintain discipline and ethical diligence in the shared environment of the Sangha, especially when defiling mental forces (kilesa) can easily slip into small openings in conduct.
Main Content
The Hatthanillehaka Sutta deals with the case in which a bhikkhu, after eating a meal (bhojana), licks or sucks his own hands so as not to waste food. Although it may arise from an intention to be economical and not wasteful, the teaching recognizes this as conduct unsuitable to the discipline of a practitioner, because it expresses attachment to personal benefit (sakkāya-diṭṭhi).
The discipline clearly stipulates that a bhikkhu should maintain diligent rules of training (dhamma-vinaya), not only abandoning actions that directly cause harm, but also avoiding minor habits that show attachment to eating. The sutta teaches that a practitioner should restrain the sense faculties (indriya-saṁvara) and not allow the mind to be governed by small pleasures.
In truth, licking the hands is not only a matter of hygiene but a symbol of remaining greed (lobha) and delusion (moha), which must be completely eradicated on the path of practice leading to nirvana (nibbāna).
Practical Meaning
The Hatthanillehaka Sutta teaches us an important lesson about mindfulness in every detail of life. Not all actions that seem reasonable or economical are appropriate to the training path.
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