Lzh Mu Bi Vb Pj 4Laying False Claim to Superhuman Attainments
Pāli / Sanskrit:Uttarimanussadhamma
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
SUTTA ON BOASTING OF SUPERHUMAN POWERS
Background
This text belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically within the Pātimokkha section, the basic code for monks and nuns. Uttarimanussadhamma, meaning superhuman powers or states beyond ordinary human capacity, is one of the most important prohibitions in the life of pure practice.
The historical setting of this text arises from the foundation of early Buddhism, when the Buddha established rules of practice to protect monks and nuns from actions that could harm the teaching. Boasting or making false declarations about extraordinary powers, such as lofty meditative attainments, surpassing wisdom, or psychic abilities, is a grave ethical violation.
This text is not a theoretical sermon, but a set of concrete rules of conduct issued by the Buddha to protect the purity of the Sangha and maintain the trust of followers.
Main Content
Uttarimanussadhamma stipulates that any monk or nun who declares, boasts of, or conceals the truth concerning powers beyond ordinary human ability commits a violation of the discipline. This includes boasts such as:
Claiming to have attained lofty levels of meditation (jhāna) that one has not actually attained. Pretending to possess supernormal wisdom, such as direct understanding of impermanence, non-self, and suffering without having actual experience. Declaring possession of psychic powers (iddhi), such as flying, passing through walls, sinking into the earth, or other spiritual phenomena that one does not in fact possess.
The purpose of this prohibition is not to limit genuine spiritual development, but to prevent deception and protect the Dharma from decline. When monastics boast, they not only commit a personal fault but also damage public trust in the teaching. Therefore this conduct is considered a "pārājika" offense, that is, an offense causing exclusion from the Sangha, in some traditions, or at least a "saṅghādisesa" offense, an offense that must be dealt with by the whole 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.