Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 As 5Further Penalty

Explanation of the Tassapāpiyasikā Sutta (Further Penalty)

Background

The Tassapāpiyasikā Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, within the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka is a detailed collection of rules for practice and communal discipline for monks and nuns, established by the Buddha to maintain harmony and collectedness within the monastic community.

This sutta records cases in which monks and nuns violated the precepts, after which the Buddha or senior members of the Sangha set forth additional penalties or procedures (pāpiyasikā). The word "Tassapāpiyasikā" means "further penalty" or "increased punishment," referring to penalties beyond the basic level for serious misconduct or repeated offenses.

The historical background shows that these rules arose through specific events. When monks or nuns violated the precepts, the matter would be reported to the Buddha by the Sangha, and he would then establish suitable penalties. These penalties were not meant for revenge or resentment, but to admonish, educate, and protect the Sangha.

Main Content

The Tassapāpiyasikā Sutta focuses on situations requiring an additional penalty beyond ordinary handling. These violations often involve repeated actions, or especially serious offenses that affect the trust of the temple community.

The penalties described may include demotion, prohibition from participating in communal practice activities, a requirement to undertake additional austerities, or, in the most serious cases, a requirement to leave the monastic community. Each penalty has its own character, depending on the gravity of the offense, the attitude of the offender, and that person’s capacity for correction.

In particular, the sutta emphasizes that monks and nuns who reoffend after the first admonition must undergo heavier penalties. This reflects a principle of Buddhist jurisprudence: a spirit of leniency toward a first mistake, but no tolerance for deliberate repetition.