Lzh Mg Bi Pm Np 27Bribing Weavers

Commentary on the Mahāpesakāra Sutta (The Sutta on the Bribed Weavers)

Background

The Mahāpesakāra Sutta records a regulation within the Vinaya Piṭaka, the legal code of Buddhism governing the conduct of monks and nuns. Throughout the history of Early Buddhism, as the Sangha continued to expand, increasingly complex situations involving ethical transgressions arose. This sutta reflects one particular case concerning the act of bribery and its consequences.

The historical context indicates that, in the time of the Buddha, monks had need of woven cloth for their robes, and certain weavers within the community provided this service. The sutta takes note of a situation in which improper interference occurred—the use of money or gifts to influence the process or outcome of the work. This represents a manifestation of impurity in transactions (asammohitaññū), a violation of the practitioner's principles of faith and purity (bhāvanā-sīla).

Principal Content

The Mahāpesakāra Sutta establishes that the act of bribing weavers in order to have one's work prioritized or to alter the quality of cloth is regarded as a transgression of the Vinaya Piṭaka. Specifically, this is a violation pertaining to the Pāṭimokkha—the fundamental code of precepts—which forms the foundation of communal life within the Sangha.

The Vinaya Piṭaka draws a clear distinction between permitted and unpermitted actions. Bribery falls within the category of the "unpermitted" because it involves deception, greed, and the intention to conceal. One who has gone forth in the training ought not to employ money or gifts to achieve personal ends, even those that may appear outwardly harmless. This rule serves as a reminder that purity must permeate the whole of one's life, from matters of great importance down to the smallest detail.

The act of bribery likewise reflects a violation of the principle of Samudācāra—right deportment—which requires that a monk maintain an attitude of respect, honesty, and impartiality in all interactions with others, whether they be members of the Sangha or laypeople.

Practical Significance

The Mahāpesakāra Sutta is not merely an administrative regulation within the Sangha; it is also a profound teaching on the integrity befitting one who has gone forth in the training.