Lzh Mu Bu Vb Pc 3Malicious Talebearing
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pesuñña
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The Sutta on Speaking Ill of Others (Pesuñña)
Background
Pesuñña, or malicious talebearing, is one of the serious violations recorded in the traditional Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka. This rule belongs to the Pācittiyas, rules concerning lapses that bhikkhus must observe in order to maintain diligent practice.
Pesuñña appears early in the Bhikkhu Vatthu, stories about bhikkhus, with a specific context: bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs used speech to divide the monastic community, speaking malicious words in order to create conflict among members of the Sangha. The Buddha saw the harm caused by malicious speech intended to undermine the community and therefore established this rule to protect harmony and trust in the Sangha.
Unlike other violations connected with lying or harsh speech, pesuñña especially emphasizes malicious intention (pāpacittaṃ) and the consequence of causing division in the community of practice.
Main Content
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, pesuñña is defined as speaking words, whether true or false, with the primary purpose of creating discord, separation, or harm to relationships among members of the Sangha. This is not frank criticism or sincere warning, but intentional malicious talebearing.
This rule applies to both bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. If a bhikkhu speaks malicious words intended to cause conflict among others, he commits a Pācittiya offense, a lapse requiring confession before the Sangha, publicly or privately depending on the specific code.
The important point is that the intention to destroy (pāpacittam, pesuñña-bhāva) must be present. If someone speaks a truth for a reasonable purpose, such as warning someone of danger or helping restore a damaged relationship, then this rule is not violated. However, if the intention is to divide and harm, even if the words may be true, it is still pesuñña.
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