- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on containing living beings Sappāṇakavagga
61. The training rule on intentionally 61. Sañciccasikkhāpada
Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At that time Venerable Udāyī was skilled in archery. And because he disliked crows, Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā udāyī issāso hoti, kākā cassa amanāpā honti. he shot them. He cut off their heads and then set them out in a row impaled on stakes. So kāke vijjhitvā vijjhitvā sīsaṁ chinditvā sūle paṭipāṭiyā ṭhapesi. The monks asked him, Bhikkhū evamāhaṁsu—“Who killed these crows?” “kenime, āvuso, kākā jīvitā voropitā”ti?
“I did. “Mayā, āvuso. I don’t like crows.” Amanāpā me kākā”ti.
The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can Venerable Udāyī intentionally kill living beings?” … “kathañhi nāma āyasmā udāyī sañcicca pāṇaṁ jīvitā voropessatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, Udāyī, that you do this?” “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, udāyi, sañcicca pāṇaṁ jīvitā voropesī”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, sañcicca pāṇaṁ jīvitā voropessasi. 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 intentionally kills a living being, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu sañcicca pāṇaṁ jīvitā voropeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
Definitions
- A: Yo panāti
- whoever … yo yādiso …pe…
- Monk: 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. …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
- Intentionally: Sañciccāti
- knowing, perceiving, having intended, having decided, he transgresses. jānanto sañjānanto cecca abhivitaritvā vītikkamo.
- A living being: Pāṇo nāma
- an animal is what is meant. tiracchānagatapāṇo vuccati.
- Kills: Jīvitā voropeyyāti
- if he cuts off and makes an end of the life faculty, if he destroys its continuity, he commits an offense entailing confession. jīvitindriyaṁ upacchindati uparodheti santatiṁ vikopeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Permutations
If it is a living being, and he perceives it as such, and he kills it, he commits an offense entailing confession. Pāṇe pāṇasaññī jīvitā voropeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is a living being, but he is unsure of it, and he kills it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Pāṇe vematiko jīvitā voropeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is a living being, but he does not perceive it as such, and he kills it, there is no offense. Pāṇe appāṇasaññī jīvitā voropeti, anāpatti.
If it is not a living being, but he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Appāṇe pāṇasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is not a living being, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Appāṇe vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is not a living being, and he does not perceive it as such, there is no offense. Appāṇe appāṇasaññī, anāpatti.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if it is unintentional; asañcicca, if he is not mindful; assatiyā, if he does not know; ajānantassa, if he is not aiming at death; namaraṇādhippāyassa, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.
The training rule on intentionally, the first, is finished. Sañciccasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ paṭhamaṁ.