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62. Using water with living beings in it

Sappāṇaka

A monk who uses water that contains living beings must confess the offense.

Translated by Bhikkhu Brahmali · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
  • 0.2MahāvibhaṅgaThe Great Analysis
  • 0.3PācittiyakaṇḍaThe chapter on offenses entailing confession
  • 0.4SappāṇakavaggaThe subchapter on containing living beings

0.562. SappāṇakasikkhāpadaUsing water with living beings in it

1.0Origin story

1.1Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,1.2Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ paribhuñjanti.the monks from the group of six were using water that they knew contained living beings.

1.3Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The monks of few desires complained and criticized them,1.4“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ paribhuñjissantī”ti …pe…“How can the monks from the group of six use water that they know contains living beings?” …1.5“saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ paribhuñjathā”ti?“Is it true, monks, that you do this?”

1.6“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.“It’s true, sir.”

1.7Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …1.8kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ paribhuñjissatha.“Foolish men, how can you do this?1.9Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.10evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

1.11.0Final ruling

1.11.1“Yo pana bhikkhu jānaṁ sappāṇakaṁ udakaṁ paribhuñjeyya, pācittiyan”ti.‘If a monk uses water that he knows contains living beings, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

2.1.0Definitions

2.1.1Yo panātiA:
2.1.2yo yādiso …pe…whoever …
2.1.3bhikkhūtiMonk:
2.1.4…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.… 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.
2.1.5Jānāti nāmaHe knows:
2.1.6sāmaṁ vā jānāti, aññe vā tassa ārocenti.he knows by himself or others have told him.2.1.7“Sappāṇakan”ti jānanto, “paribhogena marissantī”ti jānanto paribhuñjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If he uses it, knowing that it contains living beings and knowing that they will die if the water is used, he commits an offense entailing confession.

2.2.0Permutations

2.2.1Sappāṇake sappāṇakasaññī paribhuñjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it contains living beings, and he perceives it as such, and he uses it, he commits an offense entailing confession.2.2.2Sappāṇake vematiko paribhuñjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it contains living beings, but he is unsure of it, and he uses it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.3Sappāṇake appāṇakasaññī paribhuñjati, anāpatti.If it contains living beings, but he does not perceive it as such, and he uses it, there is no offense.

2.2.4Appāṇake sappāṇakasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it does not contain living beings, but he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.5Appāṇake vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it does not contain living beings, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.6Appāṇake appāṇakasaññī, anāpatti.If it does not contain living beings, and he does not perceive it as such, there is no offense.

2.3.0Non-offenses

2.3.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.3.2“sappāṇakan”ti ajānanto,if he does not know that it contains living beings; 2.3.3“appāṇakan”ti jānanto,if he knows that it does not contain living beings; 2.3.4“paribhogena na marissantī”ti jānanto paribhuñjati,if he uses it knowing that they will not die; 2.3.5ummattakassa,if he is insane; 2.3.6ādikammikassāti.if he is the first offender.

2.3.7Sappāṇakasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dutiyaṁ.The training rule on using water with living beings in it, the second, is finished.