Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Pc 61Intentionally Killing Living Creatures

The Sutta on Intentional Killing (Sañcicca)

Background

This sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, in the Patimokkha of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. It is one of the most basic rules of the discipline for bhikkhunīs and bhikkhus. The Vinaya Piṭaka was compiled to protect and guide the monastic community in accordance with the Buddha’s teaching, helping them nourish the spiritual life and maintain discipline in daily living.

The original story behind this rule arises from events that took place while the Buddha was still alive. Bhikkhus who committed improper actions, including killing living beings, caused problems in the Sangha. For this reason, the Buddha established strict training rules to correct the actions, speech, and mental intentions of renunciants.

Main Content

This rule prescribes that intentionally killing any living being, from animals to unseen beings, is considered a serious offense, Pārājika or Saṅghādisesa depending on the specific context. The word “Sañcicca” means “intentionally” or “deliberately,” emphasizing the factor of intention in the action.

According to the Theravāda Vinaya, for an act of killing to be considered a violation of the rule, three basic factors must be present: first, the object must be a living being with the capacity for sentience (pāṇa); second, the action must be carried out with a clear intention to kill; third, the action must be completed or in some way have caused death.

This rule is not limited to direct killing, but also includes indirect actions such as ordering another person to kill, using means to kill, or creating conditions for killing to occur. The important point is that the intention must be clear and the living being must die as a result of that action.

Practical Meaning

The rule of sañcicca represents the foundation of the Five Precepts (Pañcasīla), especially the first precept concerning abstaining from killing.