Lzh Mi Bu Pm Pc 66Travelling With Thieves
Pāli / Sanskrit:Theyyasattha
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Explanation of the Theyyasattha Discourse (The Discourse on Associating with Thieves)
Background
Theyyasattha is a part of the Vinaya Pitaka, specifically within the Pātimokkha, the code of the Sangha’s discipline. This discourse was recorded to regulate the conduct of bhikkhus when they must travel on dangerous roads where thieves or people with harmful intentions may be present.
The background for the formation of this discourse comes from practical situations encountered by Buddhist disciples during their journeys of teaching and travel. Theravāda Buddhism pays special attention to practical regulations intended to protect the integrity of the Sangha community and to protect each individual bhikkhu from latent dangers.
Main Content
Theyyasattha (from theyya = thief, sattha = companion or traveling caravan) stipulates that bhikkhus should not travel together with people who are preparing to engage in theft or robbery. This discourse developed from questions about whether a bhikkhu violates the Vinaya if he happens to travel on the same road with thieves when he does not know whether they have bad intentions.
The specific regulation in this discourse indicates that if a bhikkhu knows beforehand, or has reasonable ability to recognize, that the people in that traveling group are thieves or intend to commit crimes, he must not travel with them. Traveling together may be regarded as indirect support for unlawful activities. However, if the bhikkhu has no knowledge and no way of knowing the true character of those people, then no Vinaya offense occurs.
This discourse also considers various cases: when traveling together becomes conscious support, and when it is merely an unavoidable coincidence. This reflects the subtlety of the early Vinaya Pitaka, where intention (cetanā) and knowledge (ñāṇa) of the act are important factors in determining whether an action is a violation.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.