Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 79Whispering With Monk
Pāli / Sanskrit:Whispering with monk
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THE SUTTA ON WHISPERING WITH A BHIKKHU
Background
The sutta “Whispering With a Bhikkhu” is part of the Vinaya Piṭaka in the early Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka was compiled to define principles of ethical conduct for the community of bhikkhus, male monastics who have gone forth in the Buddhist Sangha.
This sutta appears in the Pāṭimokkha section or in passages related to Pācittiya, the kind of offense for which a bhikkhu must confess privately before another bhikkhu in order to be purified. The context arises from situations in communal practice, where bhikkhus need to maintain purity in mind, speech, and action. “Whispering,” communicating discreetly, is a means by which bhikkhus may confide their shortcomings without disturbing the larger community of practice.
Main Content
The specific content of this sutta has not been fully translated in the descriptive information. However, according to the general context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this sutta concerns regulations on how bhikkhus interact with one another in formal situations involving lesser offenses than those requiring public declaration.
The basic principle is this: when a bhikkhu recognizes that he has committed a Pācittiya offense, he may whisper to another trustworthy bhikkhu to confide this violation. The listening bhikkhu then guides or witnesses the confession discreetly. This procedure helps the offender become purified in discipline without full public disclosure, because this type of violation does not cause grave harm to the Sangha.
This method of “whispering” reflects the wisdom of the Buddha’s Dharma in balancing purity and compassion. It allows monastics to correct mistakes without feeling humiliated or discouraged on the path of practice.
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