Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Pc 16Throwing Out a Monastic
Pāli / Sanskrit:Nikkaḍḍhana
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The Nikkaḍḍhana Sutta: Expelling a Bhikkhu
Background
The Nikkaḍḍhana Sutta (nikkaḍḍhana: expulsion, removal) is recorded in the Vinaya Pitaka of the Theravada Buddhist tradition, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the list of basic rules that a bhikkhu must observe. It is one of the weightiest rules in the Sangha, concerning serious misconduct that leads to the consequence of being expelled from the Sangha.
In the historical context, these rules were built step by step by the Blessed Buddha through specific events. Each rule was not issued as an authoritarian decree, but as humane guidance arising from real situations in the early Sangha. The rule on expulsion reflects the concern of the Buddhadharma for the integrity and self-awareness of practitioners.
Main Content
Nikkaḍḍhana concerns the case in which a bhikkhu commits serious acts of violation that require the Sangha community to decide to expel him from the Sangha. Violations leading to this result usually concern the highest prohibitions, actions that infringe upon right conduct, basic morality, or seriously damage the trust of the Buddhist community.
The process of expulsion is not arbitrary. In the spirit of the Vinaya, it must be carried out through a formal meeting of the Sangha, with the presence of a sufficient number of monastics, and must follow strict procedures. This decision is not made from anger or carelessness, but from clearly determining the offense and its inevitable consequences.
The important point is that once expelled, the monastic is not permitted to participate in Sangha activities, has no right to train together with other bhikkhus, and in Buddhist legal terms is no longer considered a member of the Sangha. However, this does not mean the door is permanently closed. If that person truly repents and is accepted by the Sangha, he may be readmitted.
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