Lzh Mu Bu Pm Pc 16Throwing Out a Monastic
Pāli / Sanskrit:Nikkaḍḍhana
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The Nikkaḍḍhana Sutta (Expelling a Monk)
Background
The Nikkaḍḍhana Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, recorded in Pāli. It is part of the Pātimokkha, the code governing the ethics of bhikkhus. This text addresses an important issue concerning the integrity of the Sangha: expelling a monk who has seriously violated the rules from the community.
In the context of early Buddhism, the Sangha was the gathering of those who had gone forth to practice the path. To maintain the purity and harmony of this community, the Buddha established strict disciplinary rules. Especially grave violations, such as killing, stealing, sexual intercourse, or lying about spiritual attainments, would lead to the highest penalty: being removed from the Sangha.
Main Content
The Nikkaḍḍhana Sutta regulates the process and conditions for expelling (nikkaḍḍhana) a monk from the community. This is not the decision of one individual or a few persons, but the decision of the whole Sangha, carried out through a formal meeting attended by qualified bhikkhus.
The conditions for carrying out nikkaḍḍhana include: the offense committed must be one of the major offenses (Pārājika) established by the Buddha, offenses that cause the monk to lose the status of a bhikkhu. The meeting must be convened properly, with clear notice given to all bhikkhus. The decision must be unanimous or approved by majority, depending on the specific rules of each community.
After being subject to nikkaḍḍhana, the monk is no longer considered a member of the Sangha. He is barred from communal activities, may not share in the benefits of the community, and must leave the place of practice. This expresses the principle that the Sangha is a highly disciplined community and cannot harbor conduct that seriously violates basic ethical rules.
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