Lzh Dg Bi Pm Pc 165Ordaining Incontinent

Commentary on the Sutra: On Avoiding Admission of Those Who Lack Control

Background

This sutra is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, in the Pātimokkha, the Fundamental Code, of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection governing the Sangha community: the ethical and disciplinary rules laid down by the Buddha to maintain the purity of the monastic Order.

This sutra was compiled after the Buddha had proclaimed the Pātimokkha, the Fundamental Code consisting of 227 or 250 rules depending on the school. It reflects the Buddha’s legislative decisions when encountering specific situations in the management of the Sangha. The title “Ordaining Incontinent” refers to the regulation that people whose conduct cannot be controlled, especially in matters related to sexuality, should not be admitted as monks or nuns.

Main Content

This regulation concerns the principle of selecting those worthy to enter the community of practice. The Buddha emphasized that, in order to maintain the purity and morality of the Sangha, those wishing to go forth must possess the capacity for self-control (indriya saṃvara, restraint of the faculties).

Specifically, those unable to control their desires, especially those inclined toward sexual “loss of control” or harmful conduct, should not be permitted to go forth. This is not discrimination or judgment, but a protective measure for both the Sangha and the person themselves. If a person is unable to observe the basic ethical disciplines from the very moment of admission, they will encounter difficulty on the path of practice, and their presence in the community will also have negative effects.

This regulation was established in a spirit of compassion and prevention. The Buddha wished to ensure that those entering the Sangha truly had the intention and capacity to practice. In this way, the community maintains purity, moral independence, and an optimal environment for spiritual development.