Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Pj 3Murder

Exposition of the Manussaviggaha Sutta

A Section of the Early Buddhist Vinaya

Background

The Manussaviggaha Sutta, in which “vigga” means cutting off or destroying and “manussaviggaha” thus means murder, is recorded in the traditional Theravāda Vinaya, specifically in the Pāṭimokkha. This is one of the most fundamental contents of the Vinaya concerning the Pārājika Dhammas, the gravest ethical violations, by which a monk or nun who commits them is permanently expelled from the Sangha.

This sutta was taught by the Buddha to establish a clear boundary between permissible and impermissible actions in the monastic Sangha. The context for the arising of this teaching is connected with specific situations in the early monastic community, when it was necessary to define the gravest ethical violations.

Main Content

The act of murder (anumodana-sampadā) was identified by the Buddha as one of the four great Pārājikas, violations that cause a monk to lose his monastic status completely. According to the Theravāda Vinaya, intentionally killing a living human being, whether adult or child, from the entrance of the life faculty to its departure, is an irreversible act.

This sutta not only forbids direct action, but also includes indirect acts such as instructing another to kill, preparing instruments, praising the benefits of killing, or inciting another to carry out the act. Even if the final result does not occur, if the intention to kill is clear, the monk has violated Pārājika.

An important point in the sutta is the distinction among levels of violation according to mental intention (cetanā), knowledge of the act, and the actual result of that act. The Vinaya requires specific conditions to be complete for a violation to be considered the most serious Pārājika.

Practical Meaning

The Manussaviggaha Sutta reflects a basic principle of Buddhism: protecting life and developing compassion toward all beings.