Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 2Abusive Speech

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA RULES

– CLEARLY EXPLAINING THE FIRST SECTION OF THE NINETY-TWO SINGLE EXPIATION RULES

2. RULE: REVILING ANOTHER'S BIRTH AND LIVELIHOOD.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Śrāvastī, as described in full above. At that time the group of six bhikkhus used pleasant and agreeable words to coax and question young bhikkhus: "What is your name? What is your clan? What are your parents' names? What trade did your family formerly practice?"

The young bhikkhus, being straightforward and honest by nature, answered truthfully: "My family is such-and-such. My name and clan are such-and-such, and my livelihood was such-and-such."

Later, when the group of six bhikkhus had some grievance, they spoke as follows: "You are of utterly base birth. You are of the caṇḍāla kind, a barber, a weaver, a potter, a leather-worker."

The young bhikkhus, upon hearing these words, were deeply ashamed. The bhikkhus heard of this matter and went to report it to the Blessed One. The Buddha then ordered the group of six bhikkhus to be summoned. When they had arrived, the Buddha asked: "Is it true that you used pleasant and agreeable words to coax and question the young bhikkhus, and then, out of grievance, spoke thus — and so forth — calling them potters and leather-workers?"

They replied: "It is true."

The Buddha thereupon rebuked them: "That is a wrong thing to do. O group of six bhikkhus, why do you make distinctions regarding the physical form and birth of those who lead the holy life? (as has been explained in the Nandī Jātaka). And the Buddha said to the bhikkhus: 'Even animals detest being reviled; how much more so human beings.'"

The Buddha then commanded all the bhikkhus residing in Śrāvastī to assemble together, and for ten reasons he laid down this rule for the bhikkhus; all who have heard it must hear it again:

"If a bhikkhu speaks about another's physical form and birth, he commits a Pācittiya offence."

Explanation

—Reviling with regard to birth and kind: There are seven categories: Birth and clan, livelihood, physical appearance, illness, offence, abuse, and fetters.

1. Birth and Clan: There are three levels: Lower, middle, and upper.

—Lower: Such as saying: "You are of the caṇḍāla class, a barber, a weaver, a potter, a leather-worker." If such words are spoken so as to cause the other shame, a Pācittiya offence is committed. If one says: "Your parents are caṇḍālas — and so forth — leather-workers," causing that person shame, a Pācittiya offence is committed. If one says: "Your preceptor and ācārya are caṇḍālas — and so forth — leather-workers," causing that person shame, a Sthūlātyaya offence is committed. If one says: "Your friends and acquaintances are caṇḍālas — and so forth — leather-workers," causing that person shame, a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. This is called the lower level.

—Middle: Such as saying: "You are of middling birth and clan." Saying this in order to cause shame to the other, a Sthūlātyaya offence is committed. If one says: "Your parents are of middling lineage," a Sthūlātyaya offence is committed. If one says: "Your preceptor and ācārya are of middling lineage," causing that person shame, a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. If one says: "Your friends and acquaintances are of middling lineage," causing that person shame, a Duṣkṛta offence requiring mental confession is committed. This is called the middle level.

—Upper: Such as saying to another: "You are of the Kṣatriya or Brāhmaṇa lineage," causing them shame, a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. If one says: "Your parents are of the Kṣatriya or Brāhmaṇa lineage," saying this in order to cause shame to that person, a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. If one says: "Your preceptor and ācārya are of the Kṣatriya or Brāhmaṇa lineage," saying this in order to cause shame to that person, a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. If one says: "Your friends and acquaintances are of the Kṣatriya or Brāhmaṇa lineage," causing that person shame, a Duṣkṛta offence requiring mental confession is committed. This is called the upper level of birth and clan.

2. Livelihood: There are three kinds: Lower, middle, and upper.

—Lower Livelihood: Such as saying: "You are a butcher, a swineherd, a fisherman, a hunter, a fowler, a net-setter, a city guard, a sausage-seller" — saying such things in order to cause shame to that person, a Pācittiya offence is committed. The same applies to speaking about one's parents. Or if one says: "Your preceptor and ācārya are butchers — and so forth — sausage-sellers," a Sthūlātyaya offence is committed. If one says: "Your friends and acquaintances are butchers — and so forth — sausage-sellers," a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. This is called lower livelihood.

—Middle Livelihood: Such as saying: "You are a perfume-seller, a tavern-keeper, a farmer, a vegetable-grower, a messenger" — saying such things in order to cause shame to another, a Sthūlātyaya offence is committed; the same applies to speaking about one's parents. If one says: "Your preceptor and ācārya...," a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. If one says: "Your friends and acquaintances...," causing that person shame, a Duṣkṛta offence requiring mental confession is committed. This is called middle livelihood.

—Upper Livelihood: If one says: "You are a dweller in a house of gold, silver, maṇi gems, or bronze" — saying this in order to cause shame to that person, a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. The same applies to speaking about one's parents, preceptor, and ācārya. If one speaks about one's friends and acquaintances, a Duṣkṛta offence requiring mental confession is committed. This is called upper livelihood.

3. Physical Appearance: There are lower, middle, and upper levels.

—Lower: If one says: "You are blind, hunchbacked, with limbs like the wings of a bird, with a twisted neck, with crooked teeth" — saying this in order to cause that person shame, a Pācittiya offence is committed. The same applies to speaking about one's parents. If one speaks about the preceptor or ācārya, a Sthūlātyaya offence is committed. If one speaks about friends and acquaintances, a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. This is called the lower level of physical appearance.

—Middle: Such as saying: "You are very dark, very white, very yellow, very red" — saying this in order to cause shame to the other, a Sthūlātyaya offence is committed. The same applies to speaking about one's parents. Speaking about the preceptor or ācārya, a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. Speaking about friends and acquaintances, a Duṣkṛta offence requiring mental confession is committed. This is called the middle level of physical appearance.

—Upper: If one says: "You possess the thirty-two marks in their fullness, radiant and golden-hued" — saying this in order to cause shame to the other, a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. The same applies to speaking about one's parents, preceptor, and ācārya. If one speaks about friends and acquaintances, a Duṣkṛta offence requiring mental confession is committed. This is called the upper level of physical appearance.

4. Illness: There is no lower, middle, or upper distinction; all such cases are called lower. Such as saying: "You suffer from scabies, jaundice, leprosy, cancer, hemorrhoids, yellowing skin disease, malaria, wasting disease, madness" — speaking of such illnesses in order to cause shame to the other, a Pācittiya offence is committed. The same applies to speaking about one's parents. Speaking about the preceptor or ācārya, a Sthūlātyaya offence is committed. Speaking about friends and acquaintances, a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. This is called illness.

5. Offence: There is no upper, middle, or lower distinction; all offences are called lower. If one says: "You have committed a Pārājika, Saṃghāvaśeṣa, Pācittiya, Pratideśanīya, or Duṣkṛta offence" — saying this in order to cause shame to the other, a Pācittiya offence is committed. The same applies to speaking about one's parents. If one speaks about the preceptor or ācārya, a Sthūlātyaya offence is committed. Speaking about friends, a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. This is called offence.

6. Abuse: There is no lower, middle, or upper distinction; all abusive speech belongs to the lower category. Reviling someone with harsh and vicious worldly words such as: "Licentious, defiled...," and so forth, in order to cause shame to the other, a Pācittiya offence is committed. Abusing one's parents likewise. Abusing the preceptor or ācārya, a Sthūlātyaya offence is committed. Abusing friends and acquaintances, a Duṣkṛta offence is committed. This is called abuse.

7. Fetters: There is no lower, middle, or upper distinction; all fetters belong to the lower category. If one says: "You are a fool, dull-witted, ignorant, like a clod of earth, like a goat, like a white goose, like an owl" — saying such words in order to cause shame to the other, a Pācittiya offence is committed. The same applies to speaking about one's parents. Speaking about the preceptor or ācārya, a Sthūlātyaya offence is committed. Speaking about friends and acquaintances, a Duṣkṛta offence is committed.

If a bhikkhu uses reviling and defamatory speech in any of the above seven respects, he commits a Pācittiya offence. If he reviles a bhikkhunī, he commits a Sthūlātyaya offence; if he reviles a śikṣamāṇā, śrāmaṇera, or śrāmaṇerī, he commits a Duṣkṛta offence. If he reviles a lay person, he commits a Duṣkṛta offence requiring mental confession. Therefore it is said (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Translated into Chinese by: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

MEANING VERIFIED BY: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH