Xct Mu Bu Vb Pc 49Raising a Hand

The Sutta on Raising the Hand (Talasattika)

From the Theravāda Buddhist Vinaya Piṭaka

Context

The Sutta on Raising the Hand is recorded in the Pātimokkha, in the Pācittiya section, offenses requiring confession, of the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka. This is one of the detailed rules that reflects the Buddha’s concern for training bhikkhus so that they live in harmony with the spirit of practice and the discipline of the Sangha community.

The origin story of this rule concerns a bhikkhu who did not follow the guidance of his preceptor (upajjhāya) during study and practice. When the teacher questioned or instructed him, this bhikkhu raised his hand to point at the teacher’s face or to show improper disrespect. This action was regarded as disrespectful toward those with greater experience, violating the spirit of reverence (saddhā) and humility (appamāda).

Main Content

The Talasattika rule states that a bhikkhu must not raise his hand before his preceptor or teacher (ācariya) with the intention of showing disobedience or dismissing their instruction. Raising the hand in this context is understood as a gesture of contradiction, resistance, or conceit. If the bhikkhu has a disrespectful intention and raises his hand for the purpose of disturbing or obstructing the teacher’s guidance, the rule is violated, resulting in a Pācittiya offense.

However, this rule does not apply in natural cases, such as when a bhikkhu raises his hand to brush away insects, block the sun, or in other situations unrelated to disrespectful intention. The important point lies in the intention (cetanā) of the one performing the action. Pāli discipline always emphasizes that intention is the root that makes an action ethical or unethical.

This rule also reflects the general principle in the monastic discipline that students should honor their teachers.