Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Ss 3Indecent Speech
Pāli / Sanskrit:Duṭṭhullavācā
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Duṭṭhullavācā Sutta (Indecent Speech)
Background
The Duṭṭhullavācā Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, where the rules of practice and discipline for the community of monks and nuns are recorded. The Vinaya Piṭaka is a collection of humane and ethical principles that the Buddha established to maintain the purity of the Sangha and help renunciants live focused on the path.
This scripture raises the issue of indecent speech (duṭṭhula-vācā), meaning coarse words unsuitable for the life of a renunciant. In that context, the Buddha and the elder members of the Sangha determined that using vulgar and coarse language is conduct inconsistent with the spirit of practice, an offense against the dignity of the Dharma and an influence upon the faith of believers.
Main Content
Duṭṭhullavācā refers to the kind of speech renunciants must avoid: vulgar, coarse, rude, disrespectful words, or words that harm others. These are not merely ordinary impolite words, but speech that truly offends morality and is often connected with base, sexual, or violent content.
The Vinaya Piṭaka prescribes that speaking indecent words is considered a disciplinary violation (Sekhiya Dhamma, rules of training). Why? Because the Buddha’s Dharma emphasizes the importance of Sammā-Vācā, Right Speech, one aspect of the Noble Eightfold Path. Right Speech means truthful speech, not false, not divisive, not coarse, and beneficial to the listener.
Renunciants, especially monks and nuns, are expected to be bright examples in conduct and speech. When renunciants use indecent speech, it is not only a personal disciplinary violation, but also diminishes people’s confidence in the Sangha and the Dharma.
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