Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 3Malicious Talebearing

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA OFFENSES

– CLEARLY EXPLAINED: THE FIRST SECTION OF THE NINETY-TWO SINGLE OFFENSES

3. Precept: Speaking to Create Discord Among Others.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Śrāvastī, as explained in detail above. At that time, the group of six bhikkhus sought to entice and question the younger bhikkhus: "Do you know the occupation and family lineage of such-and-such bhikkhu?"

Those young bhikkhus were by nature straightforward and answered according to the facts. Later, when the group of six bhikkhus became angry, they said: "You are a caṇḍāla, a barber, a weaver, a potter, a leather-worker."

Having said this, they then added: "I myself did not know this — it was such-and-such bhikkhu who told me about you."

The bhikkhu who heard those words felt deeply ashamed. The bhikkhus then brought the matter before the Blessed One. The Buddha instructed that the group of six bhikkhus be summoned. When they had come, the Buddha asked: "Is it true that you enticed and questioned the young bhikkhus, causing such-and-such bhikkhu to feel ashamed?"

They replied: "It is true, Blessed One."

— "Why did you do such a thing?"

— "We did it because we found it amusing."

— "You fools! This is a wrongful act — to speak with a double tongue against those who lead the holy life. You call that which is painful, pleasant."

The Buddha having rebuked them with countless skillful means, then spoke of the causes and conditions, as set forth in the Jātaka of the Three Beasts. Thereupon the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus dwelling in Śrāvastī to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits, established this precept for the bhikkhus, so that even those who have heard it before should hear it again:

"If a bhikkhu speaks with a double tongue, he commits a Pācittiya offense."

Explanation

— Speaking with a double tongue: This comprises seven types — lineage, occupation, physical appearance, illness, offense, abuse, and fetters.

1. Lineage: This comprises lower, middle, and upper.

— Lower: For example, saying: "You are a caṇḍāla, (down to) a leather-worker," and then adding: "How would I know about you? It was such-and-such person who said this about you," with the intention of hoping that one person would abandon the other and become friendly with oneself. Whether they separate or do not separate, a Pācittiya offense is committed.

If one says: "Your father and mother are caṇḍālas, (down to) leather-workers," and then adds: "How would I know about you? It was such-and-such bhikkhu who said this," with the intention of hoping that one person would leave the other to become friendly with oneself — whether they separate or do not separate, a Pācittiya offense is committed. If one says: "Your preceptor or instructor is a caṇḍāla, (down to) a leather-worker," a Pācittiya offense is also committed.

Speaking about friends and acquaintances is the same. This is called the lower.

— Middle: For example, saying: "Elder, you are of middling lineage, of the lineage of soldiers, or of the lineage of entertainers," and then adding: "How would I know you? It was such-and-such person who said this," with the intention of wanting this person to leave the other and return to oneself. Whether they part from each other or do not part, a Pācittiya offense is committed. Speaking about father and mother, preceptor, instructor, friends and acquaintances — all constitute a Pācittiya offense. This is called the middle.

— Upper: If one says: "Elder, you are of the kṣatriya or brāhmaṇa lineage," and then adds: "How would I know you? It was such-and-such person who said this," with the intention of wanting that person to leave the other and return to oneself — whether they separate or do not separate, a Pācittiya offense is committed. Speaking about father and mother, preceptor, instructor, friends and acquaintances — all constitute a Pācittiya offense. This is called the upper, pertaining to lineage.

2. Occupation: This comprises lower, middle, and upper.

— Lower: For example, saying: "You work as a butcher, (down to) a seller of sausages," and then adding: "How would I know you? It was such-and-such person who said this." Saying this with the hope that this person would leave the other and return to oneself — whether they separate or do not separate, a Pācittiya offense is committed. Speaking about father and mother, preceptor, instructor, friends and acquaintances — all constitute a Pācittiya offense. This is called the lower.

— Middle: For example, saying: "You are a perfume-seller, a merchant, (down to) a messenger," and then adding: "How would I know you? It was such-and-such person who said this." Saying this with the hope that this person would leave the other and return to oneself — whether they separate or do not separate, a Pācittiya offense is committed. Speaking about father and mother, preceptor, instructor, friends and acquaintances — all constitute a Pācittiya offense. This is called the middle.

— Upper: For example, saying: "You work at a shop dealing in gold and silver, (down to) a shop dealing in bronze," and then adding: "How would I know you? It was such-and-such person who said this." Saying this with the hope that this person would leave the other and return to oneself — whether they separate or do not separate, a Pācittiya offense is committed. Speaking about father and mother, preceptor, instructor, friends and acquaintances — all constitute a Pācittiya offense. This is called the upper, pertaining to occupation.

3. Physical Appearance: This comprises lower, middle, and upper.

— Lower: If one says: "You are blind, (down to) you have protruding teeth," and then adds: "How would I know you? It was such-and-such person who said this." Saying this with the hope that this person would leave the other and return to oneself — whether they separate or do not separate, a Pācittiya offense is committed. This is called the lower.

— Middle: If one says: "You are very dark, very fair, very sallow, very ruddy," and then adds: "How would I know you? It was such-and-such person who said this." Saying this with the hope that this person would leave the other and turn toward oneself — whether they separate or do not separate, a Pācittiya offense is committed. Speaking about father and mother, preceptor, instructor, friends and acquaintances — all constitute a Pācittiya offense. This is the middle.

— Upper: For example, saying: "You possess the thirty-two marks of perfection and a radiant golden complexion," and then adding: "How would I know you? It was such-and-such person who said this." Saying this with the hope that this person would leave the other and turn toward oneself — whether they separate or do not separate, a Pācittiya offense is committed. Speaking about father and mother, preceptor, instructor, friends and acquaintances — all constitute a Pācittiya offense. This is called the upper, pertaining to physical appearance.

4. Illness: There is no lower, middle, or upper; all illnesses belong to the lower category. For example, saying: "You suffer from sores and ulcers, (down to) from madness," and then adding: "How would I know you? It was such-and-such person who said this." Saying this with the hope that this person would leave the other and turn toward oneself — whether they separate or do not separate, a Pācittiya offense is committed. Speaking about father and mother, preceptor, instructor, friends and acquaintances — all constitute a Pācittiya offense. This is called illness.

5. Offense: There is no lower, middle, or upper; all offenses belong to the lower category. For example, saying: "You have committed a Pārājika offense, (down to) you have committed a Vinaya transgression," and then adding: "How would I know you? It was such-and-such person who said this." Saying this with the hope that this person would leave the other and return to oneself — whether they separate or do not separate, a Pācittiya offense is committed. Speaking about father and mother, preceptor, instructor, friends and acquaintances — all constitute a Pācittiya offense.

6. Abuse: There is no lower, middle, or upper; all forms of abuse are called the lower. If one reviles another with malicious words in the manner of worldly people, such as: "Lustful, defiled, vile," — whether they separate or do not separate, a Pācittiya offense is committed. Abusing the father and mother, preceptor, instructor, or friends and acquaintances of that person also constitutes a Pācittiya offense. This is called abuse.

7. Fetters: There is no lower, middle, or upper; all fetters are called the lower. For example, saying: "You are foolish, dull, ignorant, like a clod of earth, like a goat, like a white goose, like an owl," and after saying such things, adding: "How would I know you? It was such-and-such person who said this." Saying this with the hope that this person would leave the other and turn toward oneself — whether they separate or do not separate, a Pācittiya offense is committed. Speaking about father and mother, preceptor, instructor, friends and acquaintances — all constitute a Pācittiya offense. This is called fetters.

If one speaks with a double tongue toward a bhikkhu, a Pācittiya offense is committed; speaking with a double tongue toward a bhikkhunī constitutes a Sthūlātyaya offense; toward a Śikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, or a śrāmaṇerī, it constitutes a Vinaya transgression; toward a lay person, it constitutes a Vinaya transgression to be confessed by mental recollection. Therefore it is said (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH