Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Pc 66Scaring

Bhiṁsāpana Sutta (Discourse on the Act of Causing Fear)

Background

The Bhiṁsāpana Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pācittiya section, rules of training concerning actions whose consequence requires confession. These are detailed disciplinary regulations on the ethical conduct of bhikkhus, the fourfold disciples, within the Sangha community.

According to the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka was taught by Buddha Śākyamuni to protect communal happiness, nurture purity of mind, and build a firm protection for the Dharma. Each disciplinary standard arose from a specific incident encountered by the disciples, and the Buddha then established the appropriate rule.

Main Content

The Bhiṁsāpana Sutta (bhiṁsāpana = causing fear/threatening, pana = act) concerns a bhikkhu threatening or frightening others, whether a living person, or through threatening words and fearsome gestures. Such conduct is regarded as a Pācittiya, a fault lighter than a Pārājika or Saṅghādisesa, but still requiring confession before the community.

This rule was laid down because the Buddha saw that when a bhikkhu uses fear to control or coerce others, this is contrary to the spirit of loving-kindness (mettā). It violates the basic discipline of the holy life (brahmacariya), a pure life founded on willingness, wholesome intention, and respect.

The specific content of this discourse has not yet been fully translated in the present framework, but according to the general context of the Pācittiya rules, the rule refers to situations such as raising a fist in threat, shouting intimidating words, or using shocking actions to make another person afraid. Even if the intention may be to “teach” or “correct,” if the means causes fear, it has become a wrongful act requiring confession.

Practical Meaning

The Bhiṁsāpana Sutta teaches that the true strength of a practitioner does not lie in the ability to cause fear, but in patience, wisdom, and compassion.