Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Pj 3Murder
Pāli / Sanskrit:Manussaviggaha
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MANUSSAVIGGAHA SUTTA (Harming a Human Being)
Background
The Manussaviggaha Sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, especially in the Pātimokkha Saṃvara section, the rules that bhikkhus must observe. This is one of the legal discourses concerning the most serious misconduct in the Buddhist community.
According to the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka was compiled to record specific situations that the Buddha witnessed or that were reported to him, from which he laid down regulations (Vinaya) to maintain discipline within the Sangha community. This discourse concerns one of the most basic prohibitions: killing a living human being.
The content of the discourse reflects the historical context of early Buddhism, where the Buddha had to address serious moral violations by certain bhikkhus. The purpose of recording this was not to judge in the manner of secular law, but to establish a clear ethical foundation for those who follow the Dharma.
Main Content
The Manussaviggaha Sutta deals with the act of intentionally causing the death of a human being. In the Vinaya system, this act is considered a Pārājika, a defeat, one of the four most fundamental prohibitions; any bhikkhu who violates it is permanently expelled from the community.
This differs from lighter offenses such as Saṅghādisesa, Pācittiya, or Dukkaṭa. The discourse states that killing a human being, whether by one’s own hand or indirectly through other actions, is an irreparable violation. The Buddha emphasizes that a bhikkhu cannot “revive” his monastic status after violating this rule. This is the meaning of Pārājika, “defeat” or “falling away.”
The discourse also clearly defines the conditions for an act to be considered a complete violation: there must be the intention to kill (cetanā), the carrying out of the act, and death as the result. If any of these factors is absent, the degree of violation differs. This shows that the Vinaya Piṭaka considers not only external action but also the mental intention of the offender.
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