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68. Not giving up a bad view

Antarāyika

A monk who says that things declared as obstructive by the Buddha are not actually obstructive 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

0.568. AriṭṭhasikkhāpadaNot giving up a bad view

1.0Origin story

1.1Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.1.2PTS 4.134Tena kho pana samayena ariṭṭhassa nāma bhikkhuno gaddhabādhipubbassa evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ hoti—At that time the monk Ariṭṭha, the ex-vulture-hunter, had the following bad and erroneous view:1.3“tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi yathā yeme antarāyikā dhammā vuttā bhagavatā te paṭisevato nālaṁ antarāyāyā”ti.“As I understand the Teaching of the Buddha, the things he calls obstacles are unable to obstruct one who indulges in them.”

1.4Assosuṁ kho sambahulā bhikkhū—A number of monks heard1.5“ariṭṭhassa kira nāma bhikkhuno gaddhabādhipubbassa evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ—that Ariṭṭha had that view.1.6‘tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi, yathā yeme antarāyikā dhammā vuttā bhagavatā, te paṭisevato nālaṁ antarāyāyā’”ti.1.7Atha kho te bhikkhū yena ariṭṭho bhikkhu gaddhabādhipubbo tenupasaṅkamiṁsu;1.8upasaṅkamitvā ariṭṭhaṁ bhikkhuṁ gaddhabādhipubbaṁ etadavocuṁ—They went to him and asked,1.9“saccaṁ kira te, āvuso ariṭṭha, evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ—“Is it true, Ariṭṭha,1.10‘tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi, yathā yeme antarāyikā dhammā vuttā bhagavatā, te paṭisevato nālaṁ antarāyāyā’”ti?that you have such a view?”

1.11“Evaṁ byā kho ahaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi— ‘yathā yeme antarāyikā dhammā vuttā bhagavatā te paṭisevato nālaṁ antarāyāyā’”ti.“Yes, indeed. As I understand the Buddha’s Teaching, the things he calls obstacles are unable to obstruct one who indulges in them.”

1.12“Mā, āvuso ariṭṭha, evaṁ avaca. Mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi. Na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ. Na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya.“No, Ariṭṭha, don’t misrepresent the Buddha, for it’s not good to misrepresent him. The Buddha would never say such a thing.1.13Anekapariyāyenāvuso ariṭṭha, antarāyikā dhammā antarāyikā vuttā bhagavatā. Alañca pana te paṭisevato antarāyāya.The Buddha has given many discourses about the obstacles being obstructive and how they obstruct one who indulges in them.1.14Appassādā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo.The Buddha has said that the enjoyment provided by worldly pleasures is small, whereas the suffering and trouble with them are huge, and so their drawbacks are greater.1.15Aṭṭhikaṅkalūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo.The Buddha has said that worldly pleasures are similar to a skeleton …1.16Maṁsapesūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā …pe…similar to a piece of meat …1.17tiṇukkūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā …similar to a grass torch …1.18aṅgārakāsūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā …similar to a pit of coals …1.19supinakūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā …similar to a dream …1.20yācitakūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā …similar to borrowed goods …1.21rukkhaphalūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā …similar to fruits on a tree …1.22asisūnūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā …similar to a knife and chopping block …1.23sattisūlūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā …similar to swords and stakes …1.24sappasirūpamā kāmā vuttā bhagavatā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo”ti.similar to a snake’s head; the suffering and trouble with them are huge, and so their drawbacks are greater.”

1.25Evampi kho ariṭṭho bhikkhu gaddhabādhipubbo tehi bhikkhūhi vuccamāno tatheva taṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ thāmasā parāmāsā abhinivissa voharati—But even though the monks corrected Ariṭṭha like this, he stubbornly held on to that bad and erroneous view, and continued to insist on it.1.26“evaṁ byā kho ahaṁ, āvuso, bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi— ‘yathā yeme antarāyikā dhammā vuttā bhagavatā, te paṭisevato nālaṁ antarāyāyā’”ti.1.27Yato ca kho te bhikkhū nāsakkhiṁsu ariṭṭhaṁ bhikkhuṁ gaddhabādhipubbaṁ etasmā pāpakā diṭṭhigatā vivecetuṁ, atha kho te bhikkhū yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.Since they were unable to make him give up that view, they went to the Buddha and told him what had happened.1.28PTS 4.135Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe bhikkhusaṅghaṁ sannipātāpetvā ariṭṭhaṁ bhikkhuṁ gaddhabādhipubbaṁ paṭipucchi—Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and questioned Ariṭṭha:1.29“saccaṁ kira te, ariṭṭha, evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ—“Is it true, Ariṭṭha, that you have such a view?”1.30‘tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi yathā yeme antarāyikā dhammā vuttā bhagavatā te paṭisevato nālaṁ antarāyāyā’”ti?

1.31“Evaṁ byā kho ahaṁ, bhante, bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi— ‘yathā yeme antarāyikā dhammā vuttā bhagavatā te paṭisevato nālaṁ antarāyāyā’”ti.“Yes indeed, sir.”

1.32Kassa nu kho nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, mayā evaṁ dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāsi?“Foolish man, who do you think I have taught like this?1.33Nanu mayā, moghapurisa, anekapariyāyena antarāyikā dhammā antarāyikā vuttā. Alañca pana te paṭisevato antarāyāya.Haven’t I given many discourses about the obstacles being obstructive and how they obstruct one who indulges in them?1.34Appassādā kāmā vuttā mayā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo.I have said that the enjoyment provided by worldly pleasures is small, whereas the suffering and trouble with them are huge, and so their drawbacks are greater.1.35Aṭṭhikaṅkalūpamā kāmā vuttā mayā …pe…I have said that worldly pleasures are similar to a skeleton …1.36maṁsapesūpamā kāmā vuttā mayā …similar to a piece of meat …1.37tiṇukkūpamā kāmā vuttā mayā …similar to a grass torch …1.38aṅgārakāsūpamā kāmā vuttā mayā …similar to a pit of coals …1.39supinakūpamā kāmā vuttā mayā …similar to a dream …1.40yācitakūpamā kāmā vuttā mayā …similar to borrowed goods …1.41rukkhaphalūpamā kāmā vuttā mayā …similar to fruits on a tree …1.42asisūnūpamā kāmā vuttā mayā …similar to a knife and chopping block …1.43sattisūlūpamā kāmā vuttā mayā …similar to swords and stakes …1.44sappasirūpamā kāmā vuttā mayā bahudukkhā bahupāyāsā, ādīnavo ettha bhiyyo.similar to a snake’s head; the suffering and trouble with them are huge, and so their drawbacks are greater.1.45Atha ca pana tvaṁ, moghapurisa, attanā duggahitena amhe ceva abbhācikkhasi, attānañca khaṇasi, bahuñca apuññaṁ pasavasi.And yet, foolish man, by misunderstanding you have misrepresented me, hurt yourself, and made much demerit.1.46Tañhi te, moghapurisa, bhavissati dīgharattaṁ ahitāya dukkhāya.This will be for your long-lasting harm and suffering.

1.47Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.48evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

1.49.0Final ruling

1.49.1“Yo pana bhikkhu evaṁ vadeyya—‘If a monk says, 1.50‘tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi, yathā yeme antarāyikā dhammā vuttā bhagavatā, te paṭisevato nālaṁ antarāyāyā’ti“As I understand the Buddha’s Teaching, the things he calls obstacles are unable to obstruct one who indulges in them,” 1.51so bhikkhu bhikkhūhi evamassa vacanīyo—then the monks should correct him like this: 1.52‘māyasmā evaṁ avaca, mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya,“No, venerable, don’t misrepresent the Buddha, for it’s not good to misrepresent the Buddha. The Buddha would never say such a thing. 1.53anekapariyāyenāvuso, antarāyikā dhammā antarāyikā vuttā bhagavatā, alañca pana te paṭisevato antarāyāyā’ti.In many discourses the Buddha has declared the obstacles to be obstructive and how they obstruct one who indulges in them.”1.54Evañca so bhikkhu bhikkhūhi vuccamāno tatheva paggaṇheyya, so bhikkhu bhikkhūhi yāvatatiyaṁ samanubhāsitabbo tassa paṭinissaggāya.If that monk continues as before, the monks should press him up to three times to make him give up that view.1.55Yāvatatiyañce samanubhāsiyamāno taṁ paṭinissajjeyya, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ,If he then gives it up, all is well. 1.56no ce paṭinissajjeyya, pācittiyan”ti.If he does not, 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.
2.1.5Evaṁ vadeyyāti—Says:
2.1.6“tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi, yathā yeme antarāyikā dhammā vuttā bhagavatā te paṭisevato nālaṁ antarāyāyā”ti.“As I understand the Buddha’s Teaching, the things he calls obstacles are unable to obstruct one who indulges in them.”
2.1.7So bhikkhūtiHim:
2.1.8yo so evaṁvādī bhikkhu.the monk who speaks in that way.
2.1.9BhikkhūhītiThe monks:

2.1.10aññehi bhikkhūhi. Ye passanti ye suṇanti tehi vattabbo—other monks who see it or hear about it. They should correct him,12.1.11“māyasmā evaṁ avaca, mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya,“No, venerable, don’t misrepresent the Buddha, for it’s not good to misrepresent the Buddha. The Buddha would never say such a thing.2.1.12anekapariyāyenāvuso antarāyikā dhammā antarāyikā vuttā bhagavatā. Alañca pana te paṭisevato antarāyāyā”ti.In many discourses the Buddha has declared the obstacles to be obstructive and how they obstruct one who indulges in them.”2.1.13Dutiyampi vattabbo.And they should correct him a second2.1.14Tatiyampi vattabbo.and a third time.2.1.15PTS 4.136Sace paṭinissajjati, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ;If he gives up that view, all is well.2.1.16no ce paṭinissajjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he does not, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.1.17Sutvā na vadanti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If those who hear about it do not say anything, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

2.1.18So bhikkhu saṅghamajjhampi ākaḍḍhitvā vattabbo—That monk, even if he has to be pulled into the Sangha, should be corrected like this:2.1.19“māyasmā evaṁ avaca, mā bhagavantaṁ abbhācikkhi, na hi sādhu bhagavato abbhakkhānaṁ, na hi bhagavā evaṁ vadeyya,“No, venerable, don’t misrepresent the Buddha, for it’s not good to misrepresent the Buddha. The Buddha would never say such a thing.2.1.20anekapariyāyenāvuso antarāyikā dhammā antarāyikā vuttā bhagavatā. Alañca pana te paṭisevato antarāyāyā”ti.In many discourses the Buddha has declared the obstacles to be obstructive and how they obstruct one who indulges in them.”2.1.21Dutiyampi vattabbo.And they should correct him a second2.1.22Tatiyampi vattabbo.and a third time.2.1.23Sace paṭinissajjati, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ.If he gives up that view, all is well.2.1.24No ce paṭinissajjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he does not, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.1.25So bhikkhu samanubhāsitabbo.He should then be pressed.2.1.26“Evañca pana, bhikkhave, samanubhāsitabbo.“And, monks, he should be pressed like this.2.1.27Byattena bhikkhunā paṭibalena saṅgho ñāpetabbo—A competent and capable monk should inform the Sangha:

2.1.28‘Suṇātu me, bhante, saṅgho.‘Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.2.1.29Itthannāmassa bhikkhuno evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ—Monk so-and-so has the following bad and erroneous view:2.1.30“tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi, yathā yeme antarāyikā dhammā vuttā bhagavatā, te paṭisevato nālaṁ antarāyāyā”ti.“As I understand the Buddha’s Teaching, the things he calls obstacles are unable to obstruct one who indulges in them.”2.1.31So taṁ diṭṭhiṁ na paṭinissajjati.He is not giving up that view.2.1.32Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ, saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuṁ samanubhāseyya—If the Sangha is ready, it should press monk so-and-so2.1.33tassā diṭṭhiyā paṭinissaggāya.to make him give it up.2.1.34Esā ñatti.This is the motion.

2.1.35Suṇātu me, bhante, saṅgho.Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.2.1.36Itthannāmassa bhikkhuno evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ—Monk so-and-so has the following bad and erroneous view:2.1.37“tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi, yathā yeme antarāyikā dhammā vuttā bhagavatā, te paṭisevato nālaṁ antarāyāyā”ti.“As I understand the Buddha’s Teaching, the things he calls obstacles are unable to obstruct one who indulges in them.”2.1.38So taṁ diṭṭhiṁ na paṭinissajjati.He is not giving up that view.2.1.39Saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuṁ samanubhāsati tassā diṭṭhiyā paṭinissaggāya.The Sangha presses monk so-and-so to make him give up that view.2.1.40Yassāyasmato khamati itthannāmassa bhikkhuno samanubhāsanā, tassā diṭṭhiyā paṭinissaggāya, so tuṇhassa;Any monk who approves of pressing monk so-and-so to make him give up that view should remain silent.2.1.41yassa nakkhamati, so bhāseyya.Any monk who doesn’t approve should speak up.

2.1.42Dutiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi …pe…For the second time …2.1.43tatiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi—For the third time I speak on this matter:2.1.44suṇātu me, bhante, saṅgho.Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.2.1.45Itthannāmassa bhikkhuno evarūpaṁ pāpakaṁ diṭṭhigataṁ uppannaṁ—Monk so-and-so has the following bad and erroneous view:2.1.46“tathāhaṁ bhagavatā dhammaṁ desitaṁ ājānāmi yathā yeme antarāyikā dhammā vuttā bhagavatā te paṭisevato nālaṁ antarāyāyā”ti.“As I understand the Buddha’s Teaching, the things he calls obstacles are unable to obstruct one who indulges in them.”2.1.47So taṁ diṭṭhiṁ na paṭinissajjati.He is not giving up that view.2.1.48Saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuṁ samanubhāsati tassā diṭṭhiyā paṭinissaggāya.The Sangha presses monk so-and-so to make him give up that view.2.1.49Yassāyasmato khamati itthannāmassa bhikkhuno samanubhāsanā, tassā diṭṭhiyā paṭinissaggāya, so tuṇhassa;Any monk who approves of pressing monk so-and-so to make him give up that view should remain silent.2.1.50yassa nakkhamati, so bhāseyya.Any monk who doesn’t approve should speak up.

2.1.51Samanubhaṭṭho saṅghena itthannāmo bhikkhu, tassā diṭṭhiyā paṭinissaggāya.The Sangha has pressed monk so-and-so to make him give up that view.2.1.52Khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmī’”ti.The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I will remember it thus.’”

2.1.53Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ.After the motion, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.22.1.54Dvīhi kammavācāhi dukkaṭā.After each of the first two announcements, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.1.55Kammavācāpariyosāne āpatti pācittiyassa.When the last announcement is finished, he commits an offense entailing confession.

2.2.0Permutations

2.2.1Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññī na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and he perceives it as such, and he does not give up his view, he commits an offense entailing confession.2.2.2Dhammakamme vematiko na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but he is unsure of it, and he does not give up his view, he commits an offense entailing confession.2.2.3Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññī na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but he perceives it as illegitimate, and he does not give up his view, he commits an offense entailing confession.

2.2.4Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but he perceives it as legitimate, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.5Adhammakamme vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.6Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

2.3.0Non-offenses

2.3.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.3.2asamanubhāsantassa,if he has not been pressed; 2.3.3paṭinissajjantassa,if he gives it up; 2.3.4ummattakassāti.if he is insane; 2.3.5if he is the first offender.3

2.3.6Ariṭṭhasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.The training rule on not giving up a bad view, the eighth, is finished.

Translator’s notes

  1. See Bu Ss 13:2.16 for the meaning of suṇanti in this context.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc68:2.1.10

  2. The Pali just says dukkaṭa, without specifying that it is an āpatti, “an offense”. Yet elsewhere, such as at Bu Ss 10:2.65, the dukkaṭa is annulled if you commit the full offense of saṅghādisesa. The implication is that in these contexts dukkaṭa should be read as āpatti dukkaṭassa, “an offense of wrong conduct”.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc68:2.1.53

  3. By editorial mistake the Pali is missing ādikammikassa, “the first offender”. This is a universal exception that applies to all the rules of the Vinaya.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc68:2.3.5