Lzh Mu Bi Pm Pc 112Seeing Obstacles to Ordination but Not Speaking
Pāli / Sanskrit:Seeing obstacles to ordination but not speaking
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Scripture on Seeing Obstacles and Avoiding Silence About Ordination
Background
This scripture belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon and reflects the regulations governing the monastic community in the early period of Theravāda Buddhism. The Vinaya was compiled to protect the purity of the Sangha, while also guiding bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs to follow strict principles when receiving those who seek ordination. This scripture centers on an ethical situation in the process of certifying eligibility for ordination: when a member of the Sangha discovers prohibitive obstacles but remains silent, not revealing the truth in order to protect the purity of the lineage.
In the historical context of early Buddhism, the Pāli Canon was preserved through councils (Sangīti) in order to maintain the accuracy of the Buddha’s teaching. The Vinaya Piṭaka is divided into three parts: Suttavibhaṅga, Khandhaka, and Parivāra, in which the Pātimokkha, the list of delicate prohibitions, forms the core of the rules of practice.
Main Content
This scripture records a specific situation related to the process of confirming eligibility for ordination. According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, before receiving any candidate, the Sangha must carry out a careful examination to determine whether the person is affected by prohibitive obstacles. These obstacles include affiliation with other sectarians, the killing of a human being, the four immediate offenses, such as murder, cutting off limbs, causing special injuries to bodhisattvas or Buddhas, or other grave moral faults.
This scripture focuses on a particular case: a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī knows that a candidate seeking ordination has prohibitive obstacles, but for some reason, perhaps out of fear or a wish to conceal the matter, does not openly disclose this before the Sangha. This act of silence is considered a violation of the Vinaya, because it fails to follow the principle of transparency and truthfulness in maintaining the purity of the Sangha.
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