Lzh Mi Bu Pm Ss 12Difficult to Correct
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dubbaca
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Dubbaca Sutta — Matters Difficult to Correct
Background
The Dubbaca Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, the Vinaya section of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka is a collection of rules and guidelines for the conduct of the Sangha, the community of monks and nuns, built from historical events in the course of the Buddha’s teaching of the Dharma. The Dubbaca Sutta stands within the context of Sangha administration and the challenges that arise when members have characters difficult to subdue.
The name “Dubbaca” (from “dubbaca-puggala,” a person difficult to correct) refers to monastics who have habits or actions not in accord with the Vinaya, and who do not easily accept counsel or correction. In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this is an extremely serious issue because it threatens the harmony (saṅgha-sāmaggi) of the monastic community.
Main Content
The Dubbaca Sutta focuses on describing the characteristics of individuals in the Sangha who are difficult to correct or instruct. Such people often commit actions that violate the Vinaya yet refuse to admit fault, are not willing to bear the practice in mind, and resolutely oppose advice from elders or from the collective Sangha.
The characteristics of a “person difficult to correct” include: not listening to the instruction of senior monastics; continuing in misguided actions; not fearing the consequences of violating the Vinaya; and wanting to defend one’s mistakes rather than amend them. Such people become obstacles to the harmony of the Sangha and hinder the spiritual development of the community.
This text also mentions the methods the Sangha should apply in handling such situations. Although a person difficult to correct does not easily accept advice, the Sangha still has the responsibility to try to educate and instruct with compassion, and finally, if necessary, to apply disciplinary measures according to the Vinaya to protect the spirit of the community.
Practical Meaning
The Dubbaca Sutta is not merely a historical document about the management of the ancient Sangha.
🌏 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.