Bi Sk 6565. Clasping the knees
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pallatthika
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Clasping the Knees (Pallatthika)
Background
The Pallatthika is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the section on training rules for monks and bhikkhunīs. In the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a collection of dry regulations but an expression of the spirit of comprehensive practice. These rules were promulgated by the Blessed One Śākyamuni Buddha in response to specific situations that arose within the Saṅgha community, with the aim of protecting the Dharma and maintaining harmony within the Saṅgha.
The Pallatthika addresses the matter of postures and actions of monastics in various circumstances. The phrase "clasping the knees" refers to a specific bodily posture that may appear in contexts such as pleading for help, expressing fear, or performing actions inconsistent with the demeanor befitting a monk or bhikkhunī in training.
Main Content
The specific content of this text has not yet been fully translated; however, based on the general context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this text concerns the regulation of bodily postures adopted by monastics in certain situations. In particular, the act of clasping the knees is noted as potentially being a sign of conduct incompatible with monastic discipline, or as a manner of comportment that is undignified.
The Vinaya Piṭaka sets forth detailed guidelines regarding bodily movement, because in early Buddhism every physical gesture was regarded as an expression of the mind. A monastic seeking alms, reciting the Dharma, or meeting with others was expected to maintain solemnity, composure, and a radiance of moral virtue. The act of clasping the knees may be understood in the context of conduct unworthy of the station and vows of a monk or bhikkhunī.
The regulations in the Vinaya Piṭaka pertaining to the body are not intended to restrict freedom, but to teach self-restraint (saṃyama)—one of the essential elements of Buddhist conduct. The body is regarded as the vehicle for Dharma practice, not as an instrument for the gratification of desire.
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