Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Pc 10Annoyance

Vilekhana Sutta - Scratching With Speech

Background

The Vilekhana Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Pātimokkha Saṁvara, the basic rules of discipline. The background for the arising of this text concerns issues of managing the community of monks and nuns and protecting purity within the Sangha.

The word “Vilekhana” means “scratching,” “scraping,” or “causing irritation,” the act of rubbing a surface so as to leave a mark. In the context of the Vinaya, this is a metaphor for causing annoyance, harassment, or agitation through repeated speech or action. It is one of the offenses (āpatti) clearly defined in Buddhism for monastics to avoid, in order to maintain harmony and dignity in the Sangha.

The rules in the Vinaya were established on the basis of specific situations witnessed by the Buddha or reported by his disciples. Whenever a problem arose, the Buddha would teach how to handle it and establish prohibitions to prevent it in the future.

Main Content

The Vilekhana Sutta concerns the prohibition against monastics and nuns intentionally causing annoyance, harassing others, or spreading negative comments about fellow practitioners. Such conduct is regarded as a violation of the spirit of harmony (saṃghasamatā) and harmful to the concentration and peace of the community of practice.

Specifically, “scratching with speech” (vilekhana) refers to repeated purposeless criticism, sarcasm, or agitation, especially speech without sufficient basis or spoken only to wound. This differs from open and constructive admonition, which is the duty of the Sangha when correction of faults is needed.

The discipline forbids such actions as repeating unnecessary criticism, annoying fellow practitioners, speaking bitter words even when they contain some truth, or continually bringing up others’ faults without any purpose of practice and only to create discord.