Lzh Dg Bu Pm Pc 77Eavesdropping
Pāli / Sanskrit:Upassuti
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Explanation of the Upassuti Sutra (Secret Listening)
Background
The Upassuti sutra is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the basic code of rules in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. It is one of the regulations concerning the conduct of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs within the Sangha.
The background of this sutra records an incident in the early period of the Sangha. Some bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs took opportunities to listen secretly to the private conversations of other members of the community, intending to gather personal information or harm another’s reputation. This act was regarded as a violation of integrity and of the principle of harmony in the community of practice.
The Buddha, recognizing the harm caused by this action, established a specific rule in the Vinaya to prevent it. This regulation was intended to protect boundaries of privacy, maintain mutual trust, and cultivate the virtue of sīla in the Sangha.
Main Content
The Upassuti sutra establishes that secretly listening (upassuti) to conversations not meant for oneself is a wrongful act, violating the ethical principles of Buddhist practice. This does not apply only to monastics, but is also a broader principle of karma and moral consequence.
Eavesdropping is understood as intentionally listening to or seeking out conversations that others do not wish to share with oneself. This act violates the virtue of refraining from falsehood (musāvāda) and harms non-ill will (avyāpāda). It reflects a lack of respect for personal boundaries and the privacy of others.
The sutra sets out the conditions defining this act: intentional purpose, the actual act of listening, and the result of obtaining information not permitted to be heard. This rule encourages monastics to practice carefulness (appamāda) in speech, thought, and action.
Practical Meaning
The Upassuti sutra teaches that moral shame (hiri) and moral dread (ottappa) are important foundations of ethical practice.
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