Lzh Mu Bi Pm Ss 20Corrupters of Families

The Sutta on Corrupters of Families (Kuladūsaka)

Background

The Kuladūsaka Sutta (Corrupters of Families) is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, a sacred body of literature containing rules of practice and stories about the disciples of the Buddha. This sutta was recorded to warn of the serious consequences when people violate basic ethical principles, especially actions that harm families—the place where all social relationships begin and take shape.

According to the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is not only a set of behavioral rules, but also a collection of profound ethical lessons on cause and result (hetu-phala). This sutta was taught in the context of the community of monks and nuns needing to understand clearly what should not be done, actions that lead to the decline of mind and spirit.

Main Content

The Kuladūsaka Sutta refers to people whose actions cause destruction and disorder in families. They may be people with bad ambitions, those who seek to break harmony among family members through harmful words or actions. In the context of the Buddhadharma, “family” (kula) is not only a biological unit, but also a spiritual community where love, trust, and morality must be protected.

Those who “corrupt families” are described as people who perform specific actions: they may spread false words, incite conflict, or disturb the peace of families in subtle ways. According to the Theravāda teaching, such actions create asat-akusala (untrue unwholesome actions), causing suffering for others and producing negative results for themselves.

The sutta emphasizes that these destructive actions violate the five basic precepts (Pañca-sīla), especially the precept against lying (musā vāda veramaṇī) and the precept against causing harm (pāṇātipāta veramaṇī). The result of these actions will lead the doer into painful rebirths.