Lzh Dg Bu Pm As 1Resolution Face to Face

Scripture on Resolution Face to Face (Sammukhāvinaya)

Background

Sammukhāvinaya, or “resolution face to face,” is one of the methods for handling violations of Sangha law recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition. This scripture belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the collection of rules and principles for managing the community of monks and nuns in early Buddhism.

The background for the formation of this scripture is related to practical needs in the growth of the Sangha. As the community of the Buddha’s disciples became larger, disputes and violations of rules also arose. The Buddha and senior disciples needed a fair and transparent mechanism for resolving these matters effectively and protecting the unity of the Sangha. Sammukhāvinaya, the method of handling matters “face to face,” was the solution approved by the Buddha, intended to resolve disputes among members directly, openly, and educationally.

Main Content

Sammukhāvinaya is the process of resolving violations of discipline or disputes in the Sangha through a direct meeting among the parties involved. This method requires the presence of the offender or disputing parties, as well as the witnessing of a properly assembled Sangha. This is not a trial in the worldly sense, but an educational act of practice intended to restore harmony and protect the law of the Sangha.

The process of Sammukhāvinaya begins when someone announces a violation or dispute. The offender is invited to face the accusation directly and is given the opportunity to explain or apologize. The assembled Sangha, consisting of qualified bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs with suitable seniority and virtue, participates as witness and reaches a common decision. This decision is not based on complex legalism but on basic principles: whether the conduct violates Sangha law, how serious the violation is, and what response is appropriate.