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Bu Pc 9

9. The training rule on telling about what is grave

9. Duṭṭhullārocanasikkhāpada

from: The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on lying

9. The training rule on telling about what is grave

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Venerable Upananda the Sakyan was quarreling with the monks from the group of six.

He then committed an offense of intentional emission of semen. He asked the Sangha for probation for that offense, which he received. Just then an association in Sāvatthī was offering a meal to the Sangha. Because Upananda was on probation, he sat on the last seat in the dining hall. The monks from the group of six then told those lay followers, “This Venerable Upananda, the esteemed associate of your families, eats the food given in faith with the same hand he uses to masturbate. After committing an offense of intentional emission of semen, he asked the Sangha for probation for that offense, which he received. And because he’s on probation, he now sits on the last seat.”

The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, “How could the monks from the group of six tell a person who’s not fully ordained about a monk’s grave offense?” … “Is it true, monks, that you did this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them … “Foolish men, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

‘If a monk tells a person who is not fully ordained about a monk’s grave offense, except if the monks have agreed, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case. A monk’s: another monk’s. A grave offense: the four offenses entailing expulsion and the thirteen entailing suspension. A person who is not fully ordained: anyone except a fully ordained monk or a fully ordained nun. Tells: tells a woman or a man, a lay person or a monastic. Except if the monks have agreed: unless the monks have agreed.

Permutations

Permutations part 1

Summary

There is agreement of the monks with a limit on offenses, but not on families. There is agreement of the monks with a limit on families, but not on offenses. There is agreement of the monks with a limit both on offenses and on families. There is agreement of the monks with neither a limit on offenses nor on families.

Definitions

With a limit on offenses: offenses are specified: “These particular offenses can be told about.” With limit on families: families are specified: “These particular families can be told.” With a limit both on offenses and on families: both offenses and families are specified: “These particular offenses can be told about, and these particular families can be told.” With neither a limit on offenses nor on families: neither offenses nor families are specified in this way.

Exposition

When there is a limit on offenses, if he tells about other offenses than those that are specified, he commits an offense entailing confession.

When there is a limit on families, if he tells other families than those that are specified, he commits an offense entailing confession.

When there is a limit both on offenses and on families, if he tells about other offenses than those that are specified or he tells other families than those that are specified, he commits an offense entailing confession.

When there is neither a limit on offenses nor on families, there is no offense.

Permutations part 2

If the offense is grave, and he perceives it as such, and he tells a person who is not fully ordained, then, except if the monks have agreed, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If the offense is grave, but he is unsure of it, and he tells a person who is not fully ordained, then, except if the monks have agreed, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If the offense is grave, but he perceives it as minor, and he tells a person who is not fully ordained, then, except if the monks have agreed, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If he tells about a minor offense, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If he tells about the misconduct of a person who is not fully ordained, whether grave or minor, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the offense is minor, but he perceives it as grave, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the offense is minor, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the offense is minor, and he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if he tells about the action that was the basis for the offense, but not the class of offense; if he tells about the class of offense, but not the action that was the basis for the offense; if the monks have agreed; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The training rule on telling about what is grave, the ninth, is finished.

Translation: English (Bhikkhu Brahmali). Source: SuttaCentral / Bilara (public domain, CC0).

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