Lzh Dg Bi Pm Ss 5Ordaining a Criminal
Pāli / Sanskrit:Corīvuṭṭhāpikā
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Exposition of the Corīvuṭṭhāpikā Scripture (Scripture on Ordaining a Thief)
Context
The Corīvuṭṭhāpikā scripture is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the section concerning ordination and the management of the Sangha. In the early period of Buddhism, while the Buddha was still alive, the Buddha allowed anyone who wished to practice according to the Dharma to go forth, provided they met the basic human conditions. However, accepting people with a criminal past into the Sangha gave rise to many disputes and ethical questions.
This scripture records situations connected with allowing a thief (corī) to go forth and receive ordination, along with the regulations, conditions, and legal dilemmas that the Sangha had to face. It is an important Vinaya text that helps the Theravāda school establish ethical standards for admitting new members into the Sangha.
Main Content
According to the tradition of the Pāli Canon, the question raised is: is a person who has committed theft in the past qualified to go forth and receive ordination? This is not merely a question of the opportunity for redemption, but a matter of the purity and cleanliness of the Sangha.
The law prescribes certain conditions that must be met. If the person has acknowledged the fault, sincerely repented, and is no longer aggressive or dangerous, then they may be considered. However, those who are habitual thieves, or who have stolen sacred objects, or who have hidden bad motives (for example, escaping worldly law), are strictly forbidden from receiving ordination.
The scripture also makes clear that the Sangha should be neither excessively harsh nor rash. There must be a balance between compassion (karuṇā) and the ideal of maintaining the purity of the Buddhist community. The Buddha taught that the principal ideal is to give practitioners the opportunity for spiritual development, but this must not be allowed for those whose intentions are not sincere.
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