Bu Sk 5252. Licking the hand
Pāli / Sanskrit:Hatthanillehaka
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LICKING THE HAND
Hatthanillehaka — Bu Sk 52
Background
The Licking the Hand Sutta (Hatthanillehaka) is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically within the Bhikkhunī Vinaya, belonging to the Theravāda tradition. It is one of the canonical texts that addresses in detail the prohibitions governing the conduct of female monastics, reflecting the deep concern of early Buddhism for cleanliness, self-restraint, and respect for the training rules.
The text was recorded in the context of bhikkhunīs practicing under the guidance of the Blessed One Gotama. The formulation of this code of discipline did not arise from harsh imposition, but from specific situations that arose and from mistakes that occurred within the practicing community, through which the Buddha taught principles for protecting both the body and mind of those in training.
Main Content
The title "Licking the Hand" appears to refer to an action that is undignified or lacking in proper standards in the way of eating or handling food. The specific content of this text has not yet been fully translated and rendered, however, based on the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this text likely concerns rules about decorous comportment at mealtimes, or actions that are unseemly in the course of preparing and consuming food.
In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka places particular emphasis on the fact that actions which may appear minor — such as how one eats, how one sits, how one speaks — all carry profound significance for spiritual training. They are not merely formal rules, but means of training the mind, setting the practitioner apart from the undisciplined habits of ordinary worldly life.
This rule also reflects the principle of sedakula (decorum) that each bhikkhunī is required to maintain. A female monastic does not practice solely for her own liberation, but is also a representative of the Sangha, influencing the faith of those around her. Therefore, even the smallest actions must arise from clarity, non-heedlessness, and respect for oneself.
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