Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Pc 12Evasive Speech

Exposition of the Sutta on Evasive Speech (Aññavādaka)

Context

The Aññavādaka Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma, specifically the Pātimokkha (Code of Rules) for bhikkhus. The sutta sets forth a subtle form of offense related to speech, when a bhikkhu deliberately evades, avoids, or speaks ambiguously in order to conceal the truth or protect personal interests.

In the monastic context, maintaining absolute truthfulness is the foundation of trust among monastics, as well as between the Sangha and the lay community. Evasive speech (aññavādaka) is regarded as an act of concession to unwholesome qualities such as deceit, irresponsibility, and lack of mindfulness. This rule emphasizes that a bhikkhu must be direct, clear, and truthful in every statement, especially in matters related to his faults, actions, or declarations.

Main Content

Evasive speech is defined as when a bhikkhu, directly asked about a specific matter, such as whether he has violated a rule or whether he has performed a certain action, intentionally gives an ambiguous or unclear answer, or deliberately redirects the conversation to avoid answering frankly. This differs from silence or refusal to answer; it is a subtle form of lying through the construction of words meant to conceal the truth.

The sutta indicates that this action violates the spirit of the Vinaya because it breaks the foundation of the Sangha: honesty and transparency. A community of practitioners cannot be maintained if members may freely use ambiguous, evasive words to protect themselves or their personal interests. This teaching applies not only when one is questioned about faults, but also when one is asked to speak frankly about any matter related to the monastery or the Sangha.