- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
- The chapter on training Sekhiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on hands on hips Khambhakatavagga
26. The training rule on sitting with clasped knees 26. Pallatthikasikkhāpada
Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At that time the monks from the group of six were clasping their knees while sitting in inhabited areas. … Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū pallatthikāya antaraghare nisīdanti …pe….
Final ruling
“‘I will not clasp my knees while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.” “Na pallatthikāya antaraghare nisīdissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.
One should not clasp one’s knees while sitting in an inhabited area. Na pallatthikāya antaraghare nisīditabbaṁ. If a monk, out of disrespect, clasps his knees with his hands or with a cloth while sitting in an inhabited area, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Yo anādariyaṁ paṭicca hatthapallatthikāya vā dussapallatthikāya vā antaraghare nisīdati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if it is unintentional; asañcicca, if he is not mindful; assatiyā, if he does not know; ajānantassa, if he is sick; gilānassa, if he has entered his dwelling; vāsūpagatassa, if there is an emergency; āpadāsu, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.
The sixth training rule is finished. Chaṭṭhasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.