Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Pc 13Evasive Speech

Sutta on Evasive Speech (Aññavādaka) - Explanation

Background

The Sutta on Evasive Speech (Aññavādaka) is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, specifically in the Pācittiya section, offenses requiring confession. This is one of the rules concerning truthfulness in the speech of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs.

The Vinaya Piṭaka was compiled to protect the community of monks and nuns so that it might maintain noble morality and spirituality in communal life. These rules were not imposed by gods or by any external power, but were taught by the Buddha Śākyamuni himself on the basis of specific events that occurred, when he saw the need to maintain discipline and the trust of the Buddhist community.

The offense of "evasive speech" or "speaking otherwise" (aññavāda) is regarded as serious because it directly affects trust, the foundation of the relationship between monks and nuns and devotees, as well as among members of the monastic community.

Main Content

According to the Pācittiya rule in the Vinaya Piṭaka, if a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī intentionally speaks falsely, especially words intended to justify their own wrongdoing or conceal the truth by saying things not in accord with actual events, that person commits a Pācittiya offense, a type of violation that must be declared and confessed before the community.

The Aññavādaka Sutta especially points out the danger of false speech, the distortion of truth (añña, other, or words not corresponding to the facts). This is not merely a matter of careless speech, but an intentional act of dishonesty. This distinction is very important in the Vinaya: a bhikkhu may speak incorrectly by accident, but intentional false speech is a serious violation.

This rule protects the integrity of the Sangha. No one may use religious status to conceal mistakes or deceive others. Truthfulness is the foundation of monastic virtue, because only truthfulness can lead to self-recognition and genuine practice.