San Sarv Bu Pm Finot Pc 48Hitting
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pahāra
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Pahāra Discourse — On the Act of Striking
Background
The Pahāra Discourse (Striking) is one of the important regulations in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka contains the rules of moral training for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, intended to maintain discipline in the noble and harmonious monastic community.
The content of the Pahāra Discourse is directly related to violent action, specifically striking, slapping, or causing bodily harm within the monastic community. This is one of the issues the Buddha had to regulate, because fighting among members of the Sangha not only violates the spirit of compassion, but also destroys harmony and damages the reputation of the Sangha body.
According to the Theravāda tradition, these regulations are recorded in the Pātimokkha, the basic section of the Vinaya. The disciplinary discourses were laid down gradually, often arising from specific situations that occurred within the community of bhikkhus, after which the Buddha established rules to prevent similar violations.
Main Content
The Pahāra Discourse states that a bhikkhu must not strike or slap another bhikkhu. Such an act is regarded as a Pārājika offence, a grave offence, or as another serious regulation depending on the degree of injury caused.
This rule applies not only to visible wounds but also to any form of physical attack, whether light or severe. The motive of the action, whether accidental or arising from anger, is also considered in judging the level of the offence.
The Vinaya Piṭaka emphasizes that bhikkhus who violate this rule must confess their wrongdoing before the Sangha and undertake appropriate steps of correction. If a bhikkhu refuses to confess or does not amend his conduct, he may be excluded from the Sangha or be subject to other disciplinary penalties.
What is important is that Pahāra not only forbids the act of striking, but also upholds the spirit of nonviolence and respect for the life of others, a fundamental principle of the Five Precepts (Pañcasīla) and Buddhist practice.
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