Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
The subchapter on legitimately Sahadhammikavagga

78. The training rule on eavesdropping 78. Upassutisikkhāpada

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. the monks from the group of six were arguing with the good monks. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū pesalehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ bhaṇḍanti. The good monks said, Pesalā bhikkhū evaṁ vadanti—“These monks from the group of six are shameless; “alajjino ime, āvuso, chabbaggiyā bhikkhū. it’s not possible to argue with them.” Na sakkā imehi saha bhaṇḍitun”ti.

And the monks from the group of six said, Chabbaggiyā bhikkhū evaṁ vadanti—“Why are you slandering us by calling us shameless?” “kissa tumhe, āvuso, amhe alajjivādena pāpethā”ti?

“How did you know?” “Kahaṁ pana tumhe, āvuso, assutthā”ti?

“We were eavesdropping on you.” “Mayaṁ āyasmantānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭhamhā”ti.

The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could the monks from the group of six eavesdrop on monks they are arguing and disputing with?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhūnaṁ bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭhissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that you did this?” “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭhathā”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish men, how could you do this? kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhūnaṁ bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭhissatha. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisā, 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 eavesdrops on monks who are arguing and disputing, thinking, “I’ll hear what they say,” and he does so only for this reason and no other, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhūnaṁ bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭheyya—‘yaṁ ime bhaṇissanti taṁ sossāmī’ti etadeva paccayaṁ karitvā anaññaṁ, 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.
On monks: Bhikkhūnanti: on other monks. aññesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ.
Who are arguing and disputing: Bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānanti: who are engaged in a legal issue. adhikaraṇajātānaṁ.
Eavesdrops: Upassutiṁ tiṭṭheyyāti: if he is on his way to eavesdrop, thinking, “After hearing what they say, I’ll accuse them,” “… I’ll remind them,” “… I’ll counter accuse them,” “… I’ll counter remind them,” “… I’ll humiliate them,” he commits an offense of wrong conduct. “imesaṁ sutvā codessāmi sāressāmi paṭicodessāmi paṭisāressāmi maṅkū karissāmī”ti gacchati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Wherever he stands to listen, he commits an offense entailing confession. Yattha ṭhito suṇāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he is walking behind someone, and he speeds up with the intention to eavesdrop, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Pacchato gacchanto turito gacchati sossāmīti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Wherever he stands to listen, he commits an offense entailing confession. Yattha ṭhito suṇāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he is walking in front of someone, and he slows down with the intention to eavesdrop, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Purato gacchanto ohiyyati sossāmīti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Wherever he stands to eavesdrop, he commits an offense entailing confession. Yattha ṭhito suṇāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he goes to where a monk who is speaking privately is standing, sitting, or lying down, he should clear his throat or make his presence known. If he does not clear his throat or make his presence known, he commits an offense entailing confession. Bhikkhussa ṭhitokāsaṁ vā nisinnokāsaṁ vā nipannokāsaṁ vā āgantvā mantentaṁ ukkāsitabbaṁ, vijānāpetabbaṁ, no ce ukkāseyya vā vijānāpeyya vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
He does so only for this reason and no other: Etadeva paccayaṁ karitvā anaññanti: there is no other reason for eavesdropping. na añño koci paccayo hoti upassutiṁ tiṭṭhituṁ.

Permutations

If it is one who is fully ordained, and he perceives him as such, and he eavesdrops on him, he commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampanne upasampannasaññī upassutiṁ tiṭṭhati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is one who is fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, and he eavesdrops on him, he commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampanne vematiko upassutiṁ tiṭṭhati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is one who is fully ordained, but he does not perceive him as such, and he eavesdrops on him, he commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampanne anupasampannasaññī upassutiṁ tiṭṭhati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If he eavesdrops on one who is not fully ordained, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampannassa upassutiṁ tiṭṭhati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is one who is not fully ordained, but he perceives them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampanne upasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is one who is not fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampanne vematiko, 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. Anupasampanne anupasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if he goes, thinking, “After hearing what they say, I’ll hold back,” “… I’ll abstain,” “… I’ll resolve it,” “… I’ll free myself;” “imesaṁ sutvā oramissāmi viramissāmi vūpasamissāmi attānaṁ parimocessāmī”ti gacchati, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.

The training rule on eavesdropping, the eighth, is finished. Upassutisikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.

English Translation

Pāli Text

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law
The Great Analysis
The chapter on offenses entailing confession
The subchapter on legitimately

78. The training rule on eavesdropping

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the monks from the group of six were arguing with the good monks. The good monks said, “These monks from the group of six are shameless; it’s not possible to argue with them.”

And the monks from the group of six said, “Why are you slandering us by calling us shameless?”

“How did you know?”

“We were eavesdropping on you.”

The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, “How could the monks from the group of six eavesdrop on monks they are arguing and disputing with?” … “Is it true, monks, that you did this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them … “Foolish men, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

Definitions

A:: whoever …
Monk:: … 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.
On monks:: on other monks.
Who are arguing and disputing:: who are engaged in a legal issue.
Eavesdrops:: if he is on his way to eavesdrop, thinking, “After hearing what they say, I’ll accuse them,” “… I’ll remind them,” “… I’ll counter accuse them,” “… I’ll counter remind them,” “… I’ll humiliate them,” he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Wherever he stands to listen, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is walking behind someone, and he speeds up with the intention to eavesdrop, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Wherever he stands to listen, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is walking in front of someone, and he slows down with the intention to eavesdrop, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Wherever he stands to eavesdrop, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he goes to where a monk who is speaking privately is standing, sitting, or lying down, he should clear his throat or make his presence known. If he does not clear his throat or make his presence known, he commits an offense entailing confession.
He does so only for this reason and no other:: there is no other reason for eavesdropping.

Permutations

If it is one who is fully ordained, and he perceives him as such, and he eavesdrops on him, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is one who is fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, and he eavesdrops on him, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is one who is fully ordained, but he does not perceive him as such, and he eavesdrops on him, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If he eavesdrops on one who is not fully ordained, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is one who is not fully ordained, but he perceives them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is one who is not fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is one who is not fully ordained, and he does not perceive them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if he goes, thinking, “After hearing what they say, I’ll hold back,” “… I’ll abstain,” “… I’ll resolve it,” “… I’ll free myself;” if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The training rule on eavesdropping, the eighth, is finished.

Theravāda Vinaya
Mahāvibhaṅga
Pācittiyakaṇḍa
Sahadhammikavagga

78. Upassutisikkhāpada

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū pesalehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ bhaṇḍanti. Pesalā bhikkhū evaṁ vadanti—“alajjino ime, āvuso, chabbaggiyā bhikkhū. Na sakkā imehi saha bhaṇḍitun”ti.

Chabbaggiyā bhikkhū evaṁ vadanti—“kissa tumhe, āvuso, amhe alajjivādena pāpethā”ti?

“Kahaṁ pana tumhe, āvuso, assutthā”ti?

“Mayaṁ āyasmantānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭhamhā”ti.

Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhūnaṁ bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭhissantī”ti …pe… “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭhathā”ti?

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhūnaṁ bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭhissatha. Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

“Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhūnaṁ bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭheyya—‘yaṁ ime bhaṇissanti taṁ sossāmī’ti etadeva paccayaṁ karitvā anaññaṁ, pācittiyan”ti.

Yo panāti: yo yādiso …pe…
bhikkhūti: …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
Bhikkhūnanti: aññesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ.
Bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānanti: adhikaraṇajātānaṁ.
Upassutiṁ tiṭṭheyyāti: “imesaṁ sutvā codessāmi sāressāmi paṭicodessāmi paṭisāressāmi maṅkū karissāmī”ti gacchati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Yattha ṭhito suṇāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. Pacchato gacchanto turito gacchati sossāmīti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Yattha ṭhito suṇāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. Purato gacchanto ohiyyati sossāmīti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Yattha ṭhito suṇāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. Bhikkhussa ṭhitokāsaṁ vā nisinnokāsaṁ vā nipannokāsaṁ vā āgantvā mantentaṁ ukkāsitabbaṁ, vijānāpetabbaṁ, no ce ukkāseyya vā vijānāpeyya vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Etadeva paccayaṁ karitvā anaññanti: na añño koci paccayo hoti upassutiṁ tiṭṭhituṁ.

Upasampanne upasampannasaññī upassutiṁ tiṭṭhati, āpatti pācittiyassa. Upasampanne vematiko upassutiṁ tiṭṭhati, āpatti pācittiyassa. Upasampanne anupasampannasaññī upassutiṁ tiṭṭhati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Anupasampannassa upassutiṁ tiṭṭhati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Anupasampanne upasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Anupasampanne vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Anupasampanne anupasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Anāpatti—“imesaṁ sutvā oramissāmi viramissāmi vūpasamissāmi attānaṁ parimocessāmī”ti gacchati, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.

Upassutisikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
The subchapter on legitimately Sahadhammikavagga

78. The training rule on eavesdropping 78. Upassutisikkhāpada

Origin story

And the monks from the group of six said, Chabbaggiyā bhikkhū evaṁ vadanti—“Why are you slandering us by calling us shameless?” “kissa tumhe, āvuso, amhe alajjivādena pāpethā”ti?

“How did you know?” “Kahaṁ pana tumhe, āvuso, assutthā”ti?

“We were eavesdropping on you.” “Mayaṁ āyasmantānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭhamhā”ti.

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

Final ruling

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.
On monks: Bhikkhūnanti: on other monks. aññesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ.
Who are arguing and disputing: Bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānanti: who are engaged in a legal issue. adhikaraṇajātānaṁ.
Eavesdrops: Upassutiṁ tiṭṭheyyāti: if he is on his way to eavesdrop, thinking, “After hearing what they say, I’ll accuse them,” “… I’ll remind them,” “… I’ll counter accuse them,” “… I’ll counter remind them,” “… I’ll humiliate them,” he commits an offense of wrong conduct. “imesaṁ sutvā codessāmi sāressāmi paṭicodessāmi paṭisāressāmi maṅkū karissāmī”ti gacchati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Wherever he stands to listen, he commits an offense entailing confession. Yattha ṭhito suṇāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he is walking behind someone, and he speeds up with the intention to eavesdrop, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Pacchato gacchanto turito gacchati sossāmīti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Wherever he stands to listen, he commits an offense entailing confession. Yattha ṭhito suṇāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he is walking in front of someone, and he slows down with the intention to eavesdrop, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Purato gacchanto ohiyyati sossāmīti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Wherever he stands to eavesdrop, he commits an offense entailing confession. Yattha ṭhito suṇāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If he goes to where a monk who is speaking privately is standing, sitting, or lying down, he should clear his throat or make his presence known. If he does not clear his throat or make his presence known, he commits an offense entailing confession. Bhikkhussa ṭhitokāsaṁ vā nisinnokāsaṁ vā nipannokāsaṁ vā āgantvā mantentaṁ ukkāsitabbaṁ, vijānāpetabbaṁ, no ce ukkāseyya vā vijānāpeyya vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
He does so only for this reason and no other: Etadeva paccayaṁ karitvā anaññanti: there is no other reason for eavesdropping. na añño koci paccayo hoti upassutiṁ tiṭṭhituṁ.

Permutations

Non-offenses

The training rule on eavesdropping, the eighth, is finished. Upassutisikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.