Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Ss 14Renouncing the Training
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sikkhaṁpaccācikkhaṇa
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The Sutta on Renouncing the Training (Sikkhaṁpaccācikkhaṇa)
Background
The Sutta Vibhaṅga section of the Vinaya Pitaka presents the regulations of the Buddha-Dharma specifically for monks and nuns. The text “Renouncing the Training” (Sikkhaṁpaccācikkhaṇa) is recorded among these rules and concerns the conduct of those gone forth when they declare that they no longer wish to continue pursuing the life of practice.
The background arose when bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs wished to leave the Order and return to worldly life. The question was: how should this situation be handled officially according to the law of the Sangha? This is an important practical matter, because renouncing the training is not merely a personal act, but an event connected with the structure and order of the community of monks and nuns.
Main Content
Sikkhaṁpaccācikkhaṇa is the formal act by which a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī declares that he or she renounces the trainings (sikkha). This requires a clear declaration, usually made before the Sangha or before appropriate witnesses.
The text clearly defines the conditions and procedure that a practitioner must follow when wishing to leave the training. This act is not betrayal or deception, but a transparent process that allows those who no longer have sufficient determination or capacity to continue practicing to depart properly and legitimately. This reflects the realism of Theravāda Buddhism: it does not compel, but respects the freedom of individual choice.
The regulations in this text also protect the honor of the practitioner and of the Sangha, ensuring that departure does not cause disturbance or damage the system of reverence for the Four Jewels. When performed correctly, this act expresses respect for the vows (samaya) that the person had undertaken.
Practical Meaning
Sikkhaṁpaccācikkhaṇa teaches us that the Buddha-Dharma does not force anyone to remain on the path of practice if they no longer have the determination or sufficient capacity.
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