Lzh Mu Bi Vb Pc 3Malicious Talebearing
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pesuñña
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The Discourse on Malicious Slander (Pesuñña Pācittiya)
Background
This prohibition (pācittiya) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, the Discipline Basket of early Buddha-Dharma, where it sets out offenses requiring confession (pācittiya) by bhikkhus. Pesuñña, or malicious slander, is regarded as one of the actions that damage the Sangha community and cause division among its members.
This discourse arose from specific situations in which bhikkhus did not maintain truthfulness in speech, used words to create hatred among friends, or conveyed one person’s words to another with the intention of causing harm. Seeing the great harm of this action, the Buddha established a clear prohibition to protect harmony and trust within the Sangha.
Main Content
Pesuñña is understood as “malicious slander” or “malicious tale-bearing,” the repeated act of speaking untrue words, or even true words used with the aim of creating division and hatred between one person and another. This prohibition forbids bhikkhus from:
Speaking words intended to create hatred or division among individuals or groups within the Sangha. This action is considered a pācittiya offense: an act not as grave as pārājika or saṅghādisesa, but still requiring confession before the Sangha or before another bhikkhu.
The key point of this prohibition is intention (cetanā). An action is considered pesuñña only when there is an intention to harm, create division, or damage relationships. If someone speaks words that are difficult to hear but does so with a constructive purpose, such as directing the correction of wrong behavior, that is not pesuñña.
Practical Meaning
Pesuñña Pācittiya teaches us about the power of speech and the ethical responsibility of one who practices the Buddha-Dharma. In the life of practice, guarding speech is not merely observing a rule, but training the mind so that it is not governed by conditions of anger, a mind of hatred or a wish to cause harm.
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