• Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
  • The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
  • The chapter on offenses entailing suspension Saṅghādisesakaṇḍa

12. The training rule on being difficult to correct 12. Dubbacasikkhāpada

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Kosambī in Ghosita’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā kosambiyaṁ viharati ghositārāme. Venerable Channa was misbehaving. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā channo anācāraṁ ācarati. The monks would tell him, Bhikkhū evamāhaṁsu—“Don’t do that; “māvuso channa, evarūpaṁ akāsi. it’s not allowable,” Netaṁ kappatī”ti. and he would reply, So evaṁ vadeti—“Who are you to correct me? “kiṁ nu kho nāma tumhe, āvuso, maṁ vattabbaṁ maññatha? I should correct you! Ahaṁ kho nāma tumhe vadeyyaṁ. The Buddha is mine; the Teaching is mine. Amhākaṁ buddho amhākaṁ dhammo The Master realized the Truth because of me. amhākaṁ ayyaputtena dhammo abhisamito. Just as grass, sticks, and fallen leaves are whirled up by a strong wind all at once, just as various water plants are whirled up by a mountain stream all at once, Seyyathāpi nāma mahāvāto vāyanto tiṇakaṭṭhapaṇṇasaṭaṁ ekato ussāreyya, seyyathā vā pana nadī pabbateyyā saṅkhasevālapaṇakaṁ ekato ussāreyya; so too have you–after going forth with various names, various families, various castes, various households–been lifted up all at once. evameva tumhe nānānāmā nānāgottā nānājaccā nānākulā pabbajitā ekato ussāritā. So, who are you to correct me? Kiṁ nu kho nāma tumhe, āvuso, maṁ vattabbaṁ maññatha? I should correct you! Ahaṁ kho nāma tumhe vadeyyaṁ. The Buddha is mine; the Teaching is mine. Amhākaṁ buddho amhākaṁ dhammo The Master realized the Truth because of me.” amhākaṁ ayyaputtena dhammo abhisamito”ti.

The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can Venerable Channa make himself incorrigible when he’s legitimately corrected by the monks?” “kathañhi nāma āyasmā channo bhikkhūhi sahadhammikaṁ vuccamāno attānaṁ avacanīyaṁ karissatī”ti.

They rebuked Channa in many ways and then told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned Channa: Atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ channaṁ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, Channa, that you do this? “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, channa, bhikkhūhi sahadhammikaṁ vuccamāno attānaṁ avacanīyaṁ karosī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked him … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish man, how can you do this? kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, bhikkhūhi sahadhammikaṁ vuccamāno attānaṁ avacanīyaṁ karissasi. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Final ruling

‘If a monk is difficult to correct, and he makes himself incorrigible when legitimately corrected by the monks concerning the training rules that are recited, saying, “Bhikkhu paneva dubbacajātiko hoti uddesapariyāpannesu sikkhāpadesu bhikkhūhi sahadhammikaṁ vuccamāno attānaṁ avacanīyaṁ karoti—“Venerables, don’t say anything to me, either good or bad, and I won’t say anything to you, either good or bad. ‘mā maṁ āyasmanto kiñci avacuttha kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā, ahampāyasmante na kiñci vakkhāmi kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā, Please refrain from correcting me,” viramathāyasmanto mama vacanāyā’ti, then the monks should correct him like this: so bhikkhu bhikkhūhi evamassa vacanīyo—“Be easy to correct, venerable, not incorrigible. ‘māyasmā attānaṁ avacanīyaṁ akāsi, vacanīyamevāyasmā attānaṁ karotu, And please give legitimate correction to the monks, and the monks will do the same to you. āyasmāpi bhikkhū vadetu sahadhammena, bhikkhūpi āyasmantaṁ vakkhanti sahadhammena. For it’s in this way that the Buddha’s community has grown, that is, through mutual correction and mutual clearing of offenses.” Evaṁ saṁvaddhā hi tassa bhagavato parisā yadidaṁ aññamaññavacanena aññamaññavuṭṭhāpanenā’ti. If that monk continues as before, the monks should press him up to three times to make him stop. Evañca so bhikkhu bhikkhūhi vuccamāno tatheva paggaṇheyya, so bhikkhu bhikkhūhi yāvatatiyaṁ samanubhāsitabbo tassa paṭinissaggāya. If he then stops, all is well. Yāvatatiyañce samanubhāsiyamāno taṁ paṭinissajjeyya, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ; If he does not stop, he commits an offense entailing suspension.’” no ce paṭinissajjeyya, saṅghādiseso”ti.

Definitions

If a monk is difficult to correct: Bhikkhū paneva dubbacajātiko hotīti
if he is hard to correct, endowed with qualities that make him hard to correct, resistant, not receiving instructions respectfully. dubbaco hoti dovacassakaraṇehi dhammehi samannāgato akkhamo appadakkhiṇaggāhī anusāsaniṁ.
Concerning the training rules that are recited: Uddesapariyāpannesu sikkhāpadesūti
concerning the training rules of the Monastic Code. pātimokkhapariyāpannesu sikkhāpadesu.
The monks: Bhikkhūhīti
other monks. aññehi bhikkhūhi.
Legitimately: Sahadhammikaṁ nāma

the training rules laid down by the Buddha—this is called “legitimately”. yaṁ bhagavatā paññattaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ, etaṁ sahadhammikaṁ nāma. When corrected in regard to this, he makes himself incorrigible, saying, Tena vuccamāno attānaṁ avacanīyaṁ karoti—“Venerables, don’t say anything to me, either good or bad, and I won’t say anything to you, either good or bad. Please refrain from correcting me.” “mā maṁ āyasmanto kiñci avacuttha kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā, ahampāyasmante na kiñci vakkhāmi kalyāṇaṁ vā pāpakaṁ vā. Viramathāyasmanto mama vacanāyā”ti.

Him: So bhikkhūti
the monk who is difficult to correct. yo so dubbacajātiko bhikkhu.
The monks: Bhikkhūhīti

other monks, those who see it or hear about it. They should correct him like this: aññehi bhikkhūhi. Ye passanti ye suṇanti tehi vattabbo—

“Be easy to correct, venerable, not incorrigible. “māyasmā attānaṁ avacanīyaṁ akāsi. Vacanīyameva āyasmā attānaṁ karotu. And please give legitimate correction to the monks, and the monks will do the same to you. Āyasmāpi bhikkhū vadetu sahadhammena, bhikkhūpi āyasmantaṁ vakkhanti sahadhammena. For it’s in this way that the Buddha’s community has grown, that is, through mutual correction and mutual clearing of offenses.” Evaṁ saṁvaddhā hi tassa bhagavato parisā yadidaṁ aññamaññavacanena aññamaññavuṭṭhāpanenā”ti.

And they should correct him a second Dutiyampi vattabbo. and a third time. Tatiyampi vattabbo. If he stops, all is well. Sace paṭinissajjati, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ; If he does not stop, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. no ce paṭinissajjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If those who hear about it do not say anything, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. Sutvā na vadanti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

That monk, even if he has to be pulled into the Sangha, should be corrected like this: So bhikkhu saṅghamajjhampi ākaḍḍhitvā vattabbo—

“Be easy to correct, venerable, not incorrigible. And please give legitimate correction to the monks, and the monks will do the same to you. For it’s in this way that the Buddha’s community has grown, that is, through mutual correction “māyasmā attānaṁ avacanīyaṁ akāsi …pe… and mutual clearing of offenses.” aññamaññavuṭṭhāpanenā”ti.

They should correct him a second Dutiyampi vattabbo. and a third time. Tatiyampi vattabbo. If he stops, all is well. Sace paṭinissajjati, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ; If he does not stop, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. no ce paṭinissajjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Should press him: So bhikkhu samanubhāsitabbo.

“And, monks, he should be pressed like this. “Evañca pana, bhikkhave, samanubhāsitabbo. A competent and capable monk should inform the Sangha: Byattena bhikkhunā paṭibalena saṅgho ñāpetabbo—

‘Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. ‘Suṇātu me, bhante, saṅgho. The monk so-and-so makes himself incorrigible when legitimately corrected by the monks. Ayaṁ itthannāmo bhikkhu bhikkhūhi sahadhammikaṁ vuccamāno attānaṁ avacanīyaṁ karoti. And he keeps on doing it. So taṁ vatthuṁ na paṭinissajjati. If the Sangha is ready, it should press him to make him stop. Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ, saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuṁ samanubhāseyya tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya. This is the motion. Esā ñatti.

Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. Suṇātu me, bhante, saṅgho. The monk so-and-so makes himself incorrigible when legitimately corrected by the monks. Ayaṁ itthannāmo bhikkhu bhikkhūhi sahadhammikaṁ vuccamāno attānaṁ avacanīyaṁ karoti. And he keeps on doing it. So taṁ vatthuṁ na paṭinissajjati. The Sangha presses him to make him stop. Saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuṁ samanubhāsati tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya. Any monk who approves of pressing him to make him stop should remain silent. Yassāyasmato khamati itthannāmassa bhikkhuno samanubhāsanā tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya, so tuṇhassa; Any monk who doesn’t approve should speak up. yassa nakkhamati, so bhāseyya.

For the second time, I speak on this matter. … Dutiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi …pe… For the third time, I speak on this matter. tatiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi—Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. suṇātu me, bhante, saṅgho. The monk so-and-so makes himself incorrigible when legitimately corrected by the monks. Ayaṁ itthannāmo bhikkhu bhikkhūhi sahadhammikaṁ vuccamāno attānaṁ avacanīyaṁ karoti. And he keeps on doing it. So taṁ vatthuṁ na paṭinissajjati. The Sangha presses him to make him stop. Saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuṁ samanubhāsati tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya. Any monk who approves of pressing him to make him stop should remain silent. Yassāyasmato khamati itthannāmassa bhikkhuno samanubhāsanā tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya, so tuṇhassa; Any monk who doesn’t approve should speak up. yassa nakkhamati, so bhāseyya.

The Sangha has pressed monk so-and-so to make him stop. Samanubhaṭṭho saṅghena itthannāmo bhikkhu tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. Khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, I’ll remember it thus.’” evametaṁ dhārayāmī’”ti.

After the motion, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ, After each of the first two announcements, he commits a serious offense. dvīhi kammavācāhi thullaccayā, When the last announcement is finished, he commits an offense entailing suspension. kammavācāpariyosāne āpatti saṅghādisesassa. For one who commits the offense entailing suspension, the offense of wrong conduct and the serious offenses are annulled. Saṅghādisesaṁ ajjhāpajjantassa ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ, dvīhi kammavācāhi thullaccayā paṭippassambhanti.

He commits an offense entailing suspension: Saṅghādisesoti
… Therefore, too, it is called “an offense entailing suspension”. …pe… tenapi vuccati “saṅghādiseso”ti.

Permutations

If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and he perceives it as such, but he does not stop, he commits an offense entailing suspension. Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññī na paṭinissajjati, āpatti saṅghādisesassa.

If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but he is unsure of it, and he does not stop, he commits an offense entailing suspension. Dhammakamme vematiko na paṭinissajjati, āpatti saṅghādisesassa.

If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but he perceives it as illegitimate, and he does not stop, he commits an offense entailing suspension. Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññī na paṭinissajjati, āpatti saṅghādisesassa.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but he perceives it as legitimate, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if he has not been pressed; asamanubhāsantassa, if he stops; paṭinissajjantassa, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.

The training rule on being difficult to correct, the twelfth, is finished. Dubbacasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ dvādasamaṁ.