Xct Mu Bu Vb Pc 48Hitting

Explanation of the Pahāra Sutta (The Rule on the Act of Hitting)

Context

The Pahāra Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically in the section of the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga concerning improper conduct. This section is presented in the historical context in which the Buddha had established the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha and needed to establish disciplinary rules to maintain the purity of the monastic community.

This rule arose from a specific event: a nun struck another person, an act regarded as a disciplinary violation. The Buddha, recognizing the need to clearly define the boundaries of impermissible actions, established this rule to protect the integrity of the Sangha and to teach monastics about control of mind and action.

Main Content

The Pahāra rule (Pāli: pahāra = striking, assault) states that a nun must not hit or attack another person. This action is classified as Pācittiya (pāpuṇissati), one of the kinds of offenses requiring confession before the Sangha.

In the Vinaya, this rule is explained in detail with the conditions that constitute the offense: (1) there is an intention to strike, (2) the person struck is a living human being, and (3) the actual act of striking occurs. Depending on the intensity and context of the action, the degree of the offense may vary.

This sutta does not merely prohibit acts of violence, but also reflects the principle of ahiṁsā (Pāli: avihiṁsā), non-harming, which is the foundation of Buddhist ethics. The prohibition against hitting people expresses the Buddha’s commitment to building a community of practice in which all members are protected from physical violence and respect one another.

Practical Meaning

For those who practice in the Theravāda tradition, the Pahāra Sutta is not merely a formal disciplinary rule, but also a profound teaching on self-control and the development of compassion.