Lzh Mi Bi Pm Ss 5Reinstating One Ejected

EXPLANATION OF THE UKKHITTAKAOSĀRAṆA SUTTA

(The Sutta on Readmission into the Bhikkhu Community)

Background

This sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically the Patimokkha Saṁvara, the common discipline of the Sangha. Ukkhittakaosāraṇa (Ukkhitta = expelled; osāraṇa = request for readmission) is one of the corrective rules related to monastic discipline in the Sangha community. This sutta records the Buddha’s regulations concerning how a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī who has been excluded from the Sangha may be readmitted into the community after correcting the offending behavior.

In the earliest context of Buddhism, maintaining discipline (Vinaya) was the foundation for protecting the purity of the Sangha and preserving the integrity of the teaching. Those who violated ethical or disciplinary rules were excluded temporarily or permanently, but the Buddha always considered the possibility of correction and the opportunity for reintegration.

Main Content

This sutta stipulates the necessary conditions for an excluded monastic to be readmitted into the Sangha. According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, exclusion (ukkheppa) may occur for many reasons: violation of major precepts, refusal to correct behavior, or failure to follow the warnings of the monastic community.

To be readmitted (osāraṇa), the excluded person must show genuine repentance and comply with several strict conditions. First, that person must clearly show sincere remorse and a commitment not to repeat the offense. Second, that person must demonstrate that his or her behavior has significantly improved through a period of reflection and practice. Third, that person must formally apologize before the entire Sangha as an individual, and clearly show his or her efforts in practice.

This sutta emphasizes that the Sangha, as the community responsible for disciplinary matters, has the right to approve or reject a request for readmission based on the true degree of correction shown by the offender.