Lzh Mi Bu Pm Pc 64Deception
Pāli / Sanskrit:Mohana
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THE MOHANA DISCOURSE: EXPLANATION OF THE DISCOURSE ON DECEPTION
Background
The Mohana discourse, concerning deception and self-concealment, is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the basic rules of the Buddhist Sangha. It is not a teaching discourse (sutta), but a monastic disciplinary regulation, reflecting the concern of Theravāda Buddhism for honesty and transparency within the monastic community.
The Vinaya Pitaka is the section of instruction on ethical conduct and communal rules. Its regulations are established not for absolute imposition, but for a noble purpose: to help monastics focus on the deepest basis of practice, abandoning unwholesome states (akusala dhamma) and developing wholesome states (kusala dhamma). The Mohana discourse specifically governs the offense of deception or concealment, the act of intentionally hiding oneself from oversight or deceiving others in matters of practice.
Main Content
The Mohana discourse prohibits monastics from acting deceptively or intentionally concealing (mohana) faults and violations of the rules. This prohibition applies not only to major faults, but also to acts of "covering the eyes" or creating a false appearance in order to avoid responsibility or hide shortcomings.
In particular, this discourse makes clear that deception in matters connected with practice, such as pretending to have completed a practice or concealing a fault when discovered, is a serious violation. The deceptive mind (moha) is regarded as one of the roots of unwholesomeness: it is a form of delusion (avidyā), that is, wrong understanding of the nature of phenomena.
In the Vinaya Pitaka context, the Mohana discourse emphasizes that directness and transparency are the foundation of the Sangha community. When a member conceals or deceives, this harms not only that person, but also breaks the integrity of the community, where trust and truthfulness must be the highest values.
Practical Meaning
The deceptive mind is a great obstruction on the path of practice.
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