Lzh Mg Bi Pm Pj 6Eight Factors
Pāli / Sanskrit:Aṭṭhavatthukā
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THE SUTTA OF EIGHT FACTORS (AṬṬHAVATTHUKĀ)
Background
The Sutta of Eight Factors (Aṭṭhavatthukā) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, reflecting the profound concern of Early Buddhism for the conditions and factors that determine success in practice and in the governance of the monastic Saṅgha. This sutta is not a philosophical discourse on the Dhamma, but rather practical guidance directly related to monastic discipline and the handling of complex situations in the life of a monastery.
Found within the Bhikkhunīvibhaṅga (the Rules for Bhikkhunīs) of the Pāṭimokkha, this sutta originates from the time when the Blessed One was still present in the world, when the Saṅgha required principles for resolving disputes and for determining the offenses of bhikkhunīs. This context reveals the wisdom of the Buddha in establishing an orderly community of practitioners, grounded nonetheless in the profound teaching of karma (kamma) and intention (cetanā).
Principal Content
The Eight Factors (aṭṭha vatthu) set forth in this sutta refer to eight conditions or contexts that determine the nature of a transgressive act, thereby enabling the determination of the degree of the offense and the appropriate penalty. These factors include: the intention of the one who performs the act, the physical execution of the act, the knowledge one has of the act, the deliberateness with which it is carried out, the degree of fault, the relevant bodily conditions, the surrounding circumstances, and the direct consequences of the act.
This approach reflects a remarkably nuanced legal principle: not all outwardly similar actions should be penalized in the same manner. A bhikkhunī may perform a similar act, yet if the intention differs, or if the understanding of that act differs, or if the surrounding circumstances differ, then the degree of the offense will likewise differ. This demonstrates that the Vinaya is not a mechanical system, but a flexible framework grounded in an understanding of human psychology and the principle of karma.
This sutta emphasizes the foundational Buddhist principle: "Cetanāhaṃ bhikkhave kammam vadāmi" — "Monks, it is intention that I call karma."
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