Bu Pc 7575. Raising a hand in anger
Pāli / Sanskrit:Talasattika
A monk who in anger physically threatens another monk must confess the offense.
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Commentary on the Talasattika Sutta (Buddhist Pācittiya 75)
Background
The Talasattika Sutta (rendered provisionally as "Raising a Hand in Anger") appears in the Pātimokkha — the foundational code of discipline for the Monastic Order within the Theravāda tradition. In the historical organization of the Monastic Community, offenses are classified according to their degree of seriousness. A Pācittiya (confession offense) is a category of transgression requiring public confession before the Sangha; it is lighter than the more serious offenses such as Pārājika or Saṅghādisesa, yet it still calls for recognition and correction.
The precedent for this rule arose from actual circumstances within the early monastic community. The Buddha and the founding elders of the Order observed that anger, left unchecked, leads to violent action — and that even a threatening gesture alone can shatter the harmony of the Sangha and cause harm to others. This rule was therefore established to safeguard the spirit of calm and compassion within the community of practitioners.
Principal Content
According to the Talasattika, if a bhikkhu (monk), in a state of anger, raises his hand to threaten or intimidate another bhikkhu, that action is regarded as a transgression. Specifically, "raising a hand" (talassa) represents any physical action expressing an intention to harm or to induce fear, even if no actual blow is delivered. The word "anger" (kodha) is the necessary psychological factor — the action must originate from agitation and ill-will, and not from some other motive.
An important point concerns the distinction between genuine anger and actions that may be mistaken for it. If a teacher raises his hand to instruct or to protect himself, with no intention of threatening, this does not fall under this rule. However, if the action is performed with the motive of anger and for the purpose of frightening or intimidating another, such conduct must be confessed publicly (pācittiya).
Confession is not a severe punishment, but rather an acknowledgment of wrongdoing before the Sangha and a commitment to correct that behavior.
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