Bu Sk 17

17. Bāhuppacālakasikkhāpada

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bāhuppacālakaṁ antaraghare gacchanti bāhuṁ olambentā …pe….

Swinging the arms Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the monks from the group of six were swinging and dangling their arms while walking in inhabited areas. …

“Na bāhuppacālakaṁ antaraghare gamissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.

Final ruling

“‘I will not swing my arms while walking in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.”

Na bāhuppacālakaṁ antaraghare gantabbaṁ. Bāhuṁ paggahetvā gantabbaṁ. Yo anādariyaṁ paṭicca bāhuppacālakaṁ antaraghare gacchati bāhuṁ olambento, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

One should not swing one’s arms while walking in an inhabited area; one should walk keeping one’s arms steady. If a monk, out of disrespect, swings and dangles his arms while walking in an inhabited area, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Anāpatti—

Non-offenses

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.