Lzh Mg Bi Vb Sk 55Finding Fault
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ujjhānasaññī
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Commentary on the Ujjhānasaññī Sutta (The Discourse on Finding Fault)
Background
The Ujjhānasaññī belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, recorded within the Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga (the section explaining the rules of discipline for bhikkhus). This discourse centers on the mental disposition of "finding fault" or "being given to criticism" among those who have gone forth, a mental tendency capable of undermining the harmony of the monastic community (Saṃgha) and obstructing individual spiritual practice.
Within the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, discourses concerning mental attitudes are examined with great care, as they relate directly to the upholding of genuine moral discipline (Sīla)—not only in outward action but also in motivation and state of mind. The Ujjhānasaññī addresses excessive judgment, the habit of criticizing others, and a psychology of discontent—factors that constitute obstacles in communal practice.
Principal Content
According to the Theravāda tradition, ujjhāna (from ujjhāyati, "to complain, to criticize") denotes the excessive or heedless discovery of faults in others. Saññī means "one who perceives, one who is of a certain mind or disposition"—referring fundamentally to a habitual psychological pattern.
This discourse teaches that a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī who harbors the disposition of ujjhānasaññī—always perceiving faults in others, ever given to comment and criticism—will encounter both spiritual and worldly consequences. This mental disposition gives rise to chronic discord, breaks down the unity of the Saṃgha, and destroys trust and goodwill within the community of practice.
The Vinaya Piṭaka emphasizes that criticism, when necessary, must be offered wisely, with compassionate motivation, in an appropriate context, and with the aim of correction—not to display pride or to censure out of ill will. The disposition of ujjhānasaññī, by contrast, arises from aversion, contempt, or the wish to cause harm to another.
The discourse points out that a practitioner should instead cultivate Dhamma-saññī—perceiving things in accordance with the truth of the Dhamma—and Magga-saññī—perceiving the Path—rather than ujjhānasaññī.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.