Lzh Mu Bi Vb Ss 20Corrupters of Families

Kuladūsaka Sutta: Corrupters of Families

Background

The Kuladūsaka Sutta (Corrupters of Families) is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, expressing the social ethical dimension of early Buddha-Dharma. In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka not only regulates the internal rules of the monastic community, but also reflects the Buddha’s attitude toward conduct that harms the structure of family and community.

This sutta was taught in the context of the Buddha’s clear recognition that the family was the foundation of ancient Indian society, where ethical values were nurtured and transmitted from generation to generation. When harmful conduct enters a family, not only are individuals affected, but the entire social system declines.

Main Content

The term “kuladūsaka” (kula = family or clan, dūsaka = one who spoils or harms) refers to people whose actions, speech, or thoughts destroy harmony, trust, and virtue within a family. This sutta focuses on issues such as betrayal, deceit, abuse of power within the family, and lack of respect for other members.

The Buddha points out that corrupters of families are not only those who act in directly destructive ways, but also those who lay the groundwork for decline, those who cause division, or those who exploit their position to control and manipulate other members. In particular, the sutta emphasizes that these actions bring negative consequences not only for the individual, but also for the lineage and the wider community.

In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, this sutta is also related to issues concerning family property, wills, and inheritance rights. It reflects the Buddha’s concern for economic justice and the integrity of the social structure, in which the family plays a central role.