Ka Bu Pm Np 24Bribing Weavers

Exposition of the Mahāpesakāra Discourse (The Discourse on a Gravely Harmful Act)

Background

The Mahāpesakāra discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, recorded in the Pāli collection. It is part of the disciplinary regulations for the community of monks and nuns, intended to protect the spirit of practice and the trust of devotees.

This discourse is named “Mahāpesakāra” (mahā = great; pesakāra = causing weight or burden, a gravely harmful act). The English title “Bribing Weavers” reflects a specific situation involving monastics attempting to use greed or influence to manipulate others for personal purposes.

This context arose after Śākyamuni Buddha criticized inappropriate actions within the Sangha, when some monastics intended to act contrary to the religious Dharma and discipline. The Vinaya Piṭaka was established to prevent such conduct and maintain purity in the Sangha.

Main Content

The Mahāpesakāra discourse centers on the issue of monastics using bribes or manipulating others to achieve personal aims, especially aims contrary to the Buddha’s teaching. An important part concerns monastics attempting to bribe weavers or other persons to help them perform actions regarded as wrong by Buddhist ethical standards.

This conduct is classified as a grave offense (mahāpesakāra) because it violates many core principles: not lying, not harming others, and not being greedy. When a monastic tries to bribe someone, he is not only greedy himself but also encourages greed in another, thereby spreading this mental disease within the community.

The Buddha taught that such actions damage the reputation of the Sangha and undermine the trust of those who take refuge. A true monastic should live simply, not pursue material things, and help others pursue the path of liberation rather than manipulate them for personal benefit.