Lzh Mi Bi Vb Pc 173Not Going Immediately When Sangha Has Agreed

Explanation of the Vinaya: Not Going Immediately When the Sangha Has Decided

Background

This sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, the sacred collection that regulates the discipline and communal life of the monks and nuns. More specifically, it belongs to the Pāṭimokkha, the list of 227 or 250 prohibitions for bhikkhus, and is classified as a Pācittiya offense, requiring confession.

The background for this sutta arose from practical situations in the early Sangha community. In the time of the Buddha, when monks and nuns gathered to decide matters related to discipline, communal property, or important work, if a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī did not respect the Sangha’s decision and immediately went away, this would disturb the community and weaken the authority of the Sangha in internal governance.

Main Content

This rule requires that when the Sangha, or senior members of the Sangha, has met and reached a common decision on some matter, other members are not permitted to leave immediately without waiting or without respecting the formal conclusion of the meeting.

An offense occurs when a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī, after the Sangha has reached agreement (saṅgha-sammatī) on an important decision, leaves the meeting place at once without a valid reason or without permission from the elders. This act is considered disrespectful toward the collective authority of the Sangha.

In the Pāli Vinaya, decisions of the Sangha are carried out mainly in three ways: (1) sammati, silent consent; (2) asking those who object to speak; and (3) voting. Once the Sangha has decided, failing to respect that decision is regarded as breaking the collective agreement.

Practical Meaning

From the standpoint of practice, this sutta teaches Sangha-bhakti, confidence in the Sangha, and Sangha-sāmaggī, harmony within the Sangha.