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76. Making a groundless accusation

Amūlaka

A monk who falsely accuses another monk of an offense entailing suspension 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
  • 0.4SahadhammikavaggaThe subchapter on legitimate correction

0.576. AmūlakasikkhāpadaMaking a groundless accusation

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 bhikkhuṁ amūlakena saṅghādisesena anuddhaṁsenti.the monks from the group of six groundlessly charged a monk with an offense entailing suspension.

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 bhikkhuṁ amūlakena saṅghādisesena anuddhaṁsessantī”ti …pe…“How could the monks from the group of six do this?” …1.5“saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhuṁ amūlakena saṅghādisesena anuddhaṁsethā”ti?“Is it true, monks, that you did this?”

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

1.7PTS 4.148Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …1.8kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhuṁ amūlakena saṅghādisesena anuddhaṁsessatha.“Foolish men, how could 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 bhikkhuṁ amūlakena saṅghādisesena anuddhaṁseyya, pācittiyan”ti.‘If a monk groundlessly charges a monk with an offense entailing suspension, 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.
2.1.5BhikkhuntiA monk:
2.1.6aññaṁ bhikkhuṁ.another monk.
2.1.7Amūlakaṁ nāmaGroundless:
2.1.8adiṭṭhaṁ assutaṁ aparisaṅkitaṁ.not seen, not heard, not suspected.
2.1.9SaṅghādisesenātiAn offense entailing suspension:
2.1.10terasannaṁ aññatarena.one of the thirteen.
2.1.11AnuddhaṁseyyātiCharges:
2.1.12codeti vā codāpeti vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.if he accuses him or has him accused, he commits an offense entailing confession.

2.2.0Permutations

2.2.1Upasampanne upasampannasaññī amūlakena saṅghādisesena anuddhaṁseti, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is one who is fully ordained, and he perceives him as such, and he groundlessly charges him with an offense entailing suspension, he commits an offense entailing confession.2.2.2Upasampanne vematiko amūlakena saṅghādisesena anuddhaṁseti, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is one who is fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, and he groundlessly charges him with an offense entailing suspension, he commits an offense entailing confession.2.2.3Upasampanne anupasampannasaññī amūlakena saṅghādisesena anuddhaṁseti, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is one who is fully ordained, but he does not perceive him as such, and he groundlessly charges him with an offense entailing suspension, he commits an offense entailing confession.

2.2.4Ācāravipattiyā vā diṭṭhivipattiyā vā anuddhaṁseti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he charges someone with failure in conduct or failure in view, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.5Anupasampannaṁ anuddhaṁseti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he charges one who is not fully ordained, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

2.2.6Anupasampanne upasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is one who is not fully ordained, but he perceives them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.7Anupasampanne vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is one who is not fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.8Anupasampanne anupasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is one who is not fully ordained, and he does not perceive them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

2.3.0Non-offenses

2.3.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.3.2tathāsaññī codeti vā codāpeti vā,if he accuses someone, or has someone accused, according to what he has perceived; 2.3.3ummattakassa,if he is insane; 2.3.4ādikammikassāti.if he is the first offender.

2.3.5Amūlakasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ chaṭṭhaṁ.The training rule on making a groundless accusation, the sixth, is finished.