Lzh Mg Bi Pm Pc 89Complaining About Others
Pāli / Sanskrit:Paraujjhāpanaka
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Commentary on the Paraujjhāpanaka Sutta
On Reporting the Faults of Others
Background
The Paraujjhāpanaka Sutta (Pāli: Paraujjhāpanaka) appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically within the Pātimokkha (the collected verse code of discipline) under the Bhikkhunī Pācittiya rules (the fifth rule for bhikkhuṇīs). This sutta records the rule of conduct that monastics are required to follow in order to protect the purity of the Saṅgha and to maintain harmony within the Buddhist community.
Historically, these rules were established by the Buddha after witnessing conflicts that arose among bhikkhus and bhikkhuṇīs due to misunderstanding, jealousy, or the desire to protect one's own reputation by reporting the faults of others.
Principal Content
The sutta concerns a form of Vinaya transgression involving a bhikkhuṇī who reports or accuses another person without proper justification. Specifically, the act of "paraujjhāpanaka" — making unfounded accusations against another — is regarded as a Pācittiya offense, that is, a wrongdoing requiring confession and purification of the transgression.
This rule does not absolutely prohibit the reporting of genuine faults committed by a fellow monastic. Rather, it emphasizes motivation and method: the reporting must arise from compassion and the sincere wish to help and correct, not from anger, jealousy, or the desire to damage another's reputation. Furthermore, the one who reports must have clear evidence; the spreading of gossip or exaggeration is not permissible.
The sutta also addresses the necessary conditions: the report must be made in the presence of the accused, or through the proper channels of the Saṅgha; one must not make accusations in secret or employ discourteous language. Should any bhikkhuṇī violate these principles, she must perform confession (pabbajjaniya — a public apology) before the Saṅgha.
Practical Significance
The significance of this rule lies far deeper than its administrative provisions.
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