Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Pc 120Giving Ordination to One of Bad Character
Pāli / Sanskrit:Giving ordination to one of bad character
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Sutta on Giving Ordination to One of Bad Character
Background
This passage originates from the Vinaya Piṭaka, the collection that prescribes the principles of practice and discipline for the Buddhist Sangha. In the early history of Buddhism, the process of selecting those worthy to enter the community was not always strict. In some cases, because of lax management or special circumstances, people of bad character, or those not yet truly determined to practice, were admitted into the Sangha. These situations caused problems in discipline and in the purity of the community, leading the Buddha and the senior disciples to establish stricter rules of control.
This text reflects specific cases in which disciples violated basic principles in the process of giving ordination, especially by giving ordination to people whose character or behavior was not suited to the life of a renunciant (samaṇa).
Main Content
The text prescribes that pabbajjā, going forth, and bhikkhu ordination may not be given arbitrarily to just anyone. People of bad character, or those with moral or psychological deficiencies unsuitable for the celibate life of practice, are not permitted to be admitted into the Sangha. Specifically, this text refers to exclusionary criteria, such as people with serious contagious diseases, people with mental disorders, those who have committed grave offenses, or those who seek only material benefit in the monastery.
This rule emphasizes that those who give ordination, usually senior monks such as the upajjhāya or ācariya, must take responsibility for carefully verifying the character and motivation of the person requesting ordination. If they give ordination to an unworthy person, both the ordaining teacher and the recipient of ordination must bear consequences according to the Vinaya Piṭaka.
Practical Meaning
This text teaches us an important lesson about discernment on the spiritual path. Not everyone is ready or worthy to enter the life of practice at a given time.
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