Lzh Mg Bu Pm Pc 43Obstructing a Legal Procedure
Pāli / Sanskrit:Kammapaṭibāhana
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Sutta Kammapaṭibāhana: Obstructing a Legal Procedure
Background
The Kammapaṭibāhana Sutta (Pāli: obstructing a legal procedure) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, which records in detail the rules of training for the Saṅgha. This text arose from specific situations that occurred within the monastic community during the time of the Buddha, when certain members deliberately obstructed lawful legal procedures.
The Vinaya Piṭaka was compiled in order to maintain discipline and harmony within the Saṅgha. Each rule (Sikkhāpada) originates from a specific incident, reflecting a real-life situation that the Buddha witnessed and resolved. Kammapaṭibāhana is one of the more serious offenses pertaining to the disruption of collective discipline.
Main Content
Kammapaṭibāhana (Kammaṃ = legal procedure; Paṭibāhana = obstruction, placing an impediment) refers to the act of deliberately obstructing or disrupting the legal procedures (Kamma) of the Saṅgha. Such procedures include collective decisions such as: the conferral of full ordination (Upasampadā), the resolution of offenses (Pavāraṇā), the selection of individuals to undertake various duties, or other community affairs of a legally binding character.
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, obstruction is defined as follows: a bhikkhu, after the Saṅgha has carried out and passed a lawful legal procedure, nonetheless deliberately speaks or acts in a manner intended to undo that consensus. This may include raising unjustified objections, creating disturbance, or pointing out non-existent faults so as to disrupt a decision that has already been duly passed.
Such conduct is regarded as a serious offense (Saṅghādisesa or Pācittiya, depending on the degree of severity), because it directly violates the integrity and unity of the Saṅgha. The Buddha emphasized that once the Saṅgha has made a decision in accordance with the proper legal procedure, an individual may not employ disruptive means to overturn that decision.
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