San Mu Bu Pm GBM 3 Pc 48Hitting

AN EXPLANATION OF THE PAHĀRA TEXT (HITTING)

Background

The Pahāra text belongs to the rules concerning wandering ascetics within the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition. It is part of the Pācittiya rules, violations requiring confession for purification. This text addresses the problem of violent conduct in the monastic community, specifically the act of striking another person, a serious violation of the ethics of those gone forth.

According to the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, these rules were established by the Buddha Śākyamuni to maintain peace, harmony, and the sacred character of the Sangha. The laws are not arbitrary punishments, but means of practice that help monastics train the mind, preserve discipline, and progress toward liberation.

Main Content

The Pahāra text (Hitting) states that if a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī intentionally strikes, attacks, or causes bodily harm to another person within the monastic community, that person commits a Pācittiya offense. This is a violation requiring public confession before the monastic community.

This rule applies not only to direct punches or slaps, but also includes any action intended to cause injury or physical suffering to another. The purpose of the rule is to prevent violence, protect the integrity of the Sangha, and remind practitioners that loving-kindness (mettā) must be expressed through action, not merely held as a thought.

When a violation occurs, the offender must acknowledge the fault, express sincere remorse before the monastic community, and recommit to observing the discipline. The process of confession is not punishment but an occasion for practice, helping the offender return to the path of virtue.

Practical Meaning

The Pahāra text teaches us that violence, whether physical or mental, is contrary to the nature of Buddhist practice. The body of a practitioner should be a place for training in compassion, patience, and self-mastery.