Lzh Mu Kd 17Causing Schism in the Saṅgha
Pāli / Sanskrit:Saṅghabheda
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Exposition of the Saṅghabheda Scripture (Breaking the Sangha)
Context
The Saṅghabheda scripture is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, one of the most important collections of virtuous rules in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. This collection was compiled after Buddha Śākyamuni entered nirvana, in order to protect the integrity and harmony of the Sangha, the community of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs.
Saṅghabheda (from saṅgha = Sangha, bheda = breaking, division) is one of the acts considered among the gravest offenses in Buddhism. According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, division in the Sangha is regarded as equal to, or even far heavier than, many other offenses, because it directly threatens the existence and transmission of the Dharma.
The historical context shows that the Sangha community at times encountered divisive movements because of issues of doctrine or discipline. For that reason, the Buddha set forth detailed regulations on how to maintain harmony and deal with conduct that causes division.
Main Content
The Saṅghabheda scripture details the conduct and motives that lead to division in the Sangha. One who causes division is usually someone who deliberately separates a group of monks from the rest, or persuades members of the Sangha to abandon obedience to the common discipline.
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, conduct that causes division in the Sangha includes: spreading teachings different from what the Buddha taught with the purpose of promoting disharmony; persuading bhikkhus that the disciplinary rules of the Sangha are unnecessary; or organizing assemblies separate from the approval of the Sangha.
The scripture also clarifies that causing division is not based only on outward action but also depends on intention (cetanā). A person must have a clear intention to weaken the harmony of the Sangha in order to be regarded as causing division.
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