Bu Sk 2626. Clasping the knees
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pallatthika
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PALLATTHIKA SUTTA – THE RULE ON CLASPING THE KNEES (Bu Sk 26)
Background
The Pallatthika is one of the training rules (Sikkhāpada) recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition. It belongs to the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga — the regulations governing the training of bhikkhunīs. The rule was set forth by the Blessed One Gotama for the purpose of maintaining purity and uprightness within the monastic community, and in particular establishes a standard of appropriate conduct in the course of religious life.
The name "Pallatthika" (clasping the knees) refers to a specific physical action — the act of raising the knees, commonly associated with undignified postures or gestures within the monastic community. The occasion giving rise to this Vinaya rule typically traces back to an incident among the Sangha, in which certain bhikkhunīs failed to maintain bodily humility and composure.
Main Content
The Pallatthika sets forth a standard of proper conduct within the monastic community, specifically regarding bodily posture. The action of "clasping the knees" (pallatthika) is regarded as a manifestation of conceit, a lack of humility, or a failure to observe decorum in formal settings such as the recitation of the Pātimokkha or gatherings of the Sangha. This rule relates directly to the Pātimokkha — the fundamental code of discipline for those who have gone forth into homelessness.
According to the Theravāda tradition, bhikkhunīs are bound by 311 training rules (in comparison with 227 for bhikkhus), and regulations of this kind are intended to ensure that bodily conduct reflects the inner state of mind — wholehearted dedication to the Buddha's path. To sit or stand with a posture of humility is not merely a matter of custom or historical convention, but is a cultivation of harmony among body, speech, and mind.
The specific details of this training rule may encompass particular circumstances: communal areas within the monastery, occasions of communal recitation, or meetings of the Sangha. This rule is not an arbitrary strictness, but rather guidance by which monastics maintain dignity and composure, which in turn supports greater stability of mind and body in the practice of the Buddha's teaching.
Practical Significance
The Pallatthika teaches that spiritual practice does not reside in the mind alone, but must find expression in bodily action as well.
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