Lzh Sarv Bu Vb Pc 83Deception
Pāli / Sanskrit:Mohana
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
DISCOURSE ON DECEPTION (MOHANA)
Background
The Discourse on Deception (Mohana) is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Sutta Vibhaṅga, the section that explains the rules of the Sangha. These are regulations of conduct that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs must observe in order to maintain discipline in practice. The discourse was recorded to avoid confusion and straying from the path of training.
The context for this discourse is often when the Buddha witnessed disciples violating prohibitions, or when monks and nuns consulted him about the boundaries of actions that should not be done. Deception (mohana) here does not only mean deceiving others, but also includes self-deception, concealing faults, and denying the truth, actions arising from the mind of ignorance (avijjā).
Main Content
The Discourse on Deception discusses the nature of deception and the specific situations in which it occurs in monastic life. Deception, or mohana, is understood as the act of deceiving, concealing the truth, or covering over a fault, whether deceiving others or deceiving oneself.
In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, the discourse often analyzes specific cases: a bhikkhu hides a violation of discipline, lies about his ability in practice, or deliberately causes other beings to misunderstand the nature of the Dharma. Most importantly, deception is always rooted in the three poisons: greed (lobha), hatred (dosa), and delusion (moha).
The discourse makes clear that deception differs from unintentional mistakes. The nature of the offense is determined by intention (cetanā). A deceptive act must have the deliberate intention to conceal or mislead. Therefore, practitioners need to train in honesty and clarity in speech and action.
Practical Meaning
The deep meaning of the Discourse on Deception does not lie in listing formal penalties, but in recognizing the destructive power of deception in practice. When the mind is governed by deception, one cannot clearly see the true nature of phenomena (yathābhūta-ñāṇadassana).
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.