Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Pc 3Malicious Talebearing
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pesuñña
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Pesuñña Sutta: The Prohibition of Slander
Background
Pesuñña in the Pāli Canon refers to the act of slandering others or beguiling them with divisive and harmful words. This sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically the Pācittiyas, the offenses requiring confession. This content appears in the context of the Buddha’s establishment of the disciplinary system for the Sangha of monks and nuns, in order to maintain harmony, integrity, and the spiritual development of the community of practice.
Pesuñña is not merely lying, but the deliberate use of speech to divide relationships and make one person hate another. It is one of the greatest causes of harm to the harmony of the Sangha. Therefore, the Buddha forbade bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs to engage in this action.
Main Content
According to the Vinaya rule, any member of the Sangha of monks and nuns who speaks divisive words, whether by speaking to others or repeating parts of what was said in order to increase harm, commits a Pācittiya offense. The sutta describes slander as characterized by the intention to harm and the wish to destroy relationships.
The important point is not whether the content is true or false, but the purpose behind the speech. Even true statements become pesuñña if used to divide. This action is regarded as extremely serious because it can break the unity of the Sangha, obstruct collective practice, and create an environment full of suspicion and hatred.
Confession (pācittiya) is required when a monastic acknowledges this action. Confession is not simply an apology, but includes acknowledgment before another bhikkhu, a commitment not to repeat the action, and an effort to return to observing the discipline.
Practical Meaning
The rule prohibiting pesuñña reflects a profound principle: early Buddhism regards harmony (samaggi) as the foundation of communal practice. Divisive speech not only causes psychological harm, but also destroys the essential conditions for the development of wisdom and concentration.
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