Lzh Mi Bi Vb Pc 45Eavesdropping
Pāli / Sanskrit:Upassuti
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The Upassuti Scripture (Listening Secretly)
Background
The Upassuti scripture (Pāli: upassuti, meaning “listening secretly” or “eavesdropping”) is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha of the nuns (Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha). These are rules of ethical training laid down by the Buddha Gotama to govern the actions, speech, and intentions of bhikkhunīs, in order to protect harmony within the Sangha and maintain the purity of the holy Dharma.
This scripture is recorded in the Pācittiya sections, offenses requiring confession, of the Vinaya Piṭaka. These rules are not absolute prohibitions like the Pārājika, the defeats, but actions that should not be done because they may lead to division of mind, loss of mindfulness, or weakening of the happiness of the monastic community.
Main Content
The Upassuti scripture stipulates that a bhikkhunī should not secretly listen to the conversations of others. Specifically, if two or more people are speaking privately, and the bhikkhunī intentionally listens secretly without permission, this is an inappropriate act in ethical training.
The act of “listening secretly” (upassuti) is understood as approaching or staying near a conversation that the speakers do not want the bhikkhunī to know about, with the purpose of hearing what they say. This is different from accidentally hearing something while the bhikkhunī is passing by.
This violation is considered a Pācittiya, that is, a fault requiring confession before another bhikkhunī. It is not a grave fault like acts that destroy absolute purity, but it reflects a lack of respect for the privacy and trust of others.
The reason for establishing this rule is not only to protect the privacy of others, but also to counteract negative qualities such as craving for information, unreasonable curiosity, and the tendency to speak about unnecessary matters. In reality, eavesdropping is often accompanied by an unwholesome intention, perhaps wanting to learn matters that do not concern one, or later using that information to cause trouble.
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