Daṇḍapāṇi

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Mahāvibhaṅga

The Great Analysis

Sekhiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on training

Surusuruvagga

The subchapter on slurping

58. Daṇḍapāṇisikkhāpada

Holding a staff

Origin story

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū daṇḍapāṇissa dhammaṁ desenti …pe….

At that time the monks from the group of six gave teachings to people holding staffs. …

Final ruling

“Na daṇḍapāṇissa agilānassa dhammaṁ desessāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.

“‘I will not give a teaching to anyone holding a staff who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.”

Definitions

Daṇḍo nāma

A staff:

majjhimassa purisassa catuhattho daṇḍo.

a stick measuring 1.6 meters.

Tato ukkaṭṭho adaṇḍo, omako adaṇḍo.

What is longer than that is not a staff, nor what is shorter.

Na daṇḍapāṇissa agilānassa dhammo desetabbo.

One should not give a teaching to anyone holding a staff who is not sick.

Yo anādariyaṁ paṭicca daṇḍapāṇissa agilānassa dhammaṁ deseti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If a monk out, of disrespect, gives a teaching to someone holding a staff who is not sick, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

asañcicca …pe…

if it is unintentional;

if he is not mindful;

if he does not know;

if he is sick;

if there is an emergency;

if he is insane;

ādikammikassāti.

if he is the first offender.

Aṭṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The eighth training rule is finished.