Upp Pc 68Scaring
Pāli / Sanskrit:Bhiṁsāpana
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Discourse on Causing Fear (Bhiṁsāpana)
Background
Bhiṁsāpana (Causing Fear) is a pericope in the Pācittiya section of the Vinaya Piṭaka, recording rules concerning the conduct of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. This text arises from specific events that the Buddha witnessed or that were reported by his disciples, when some monastics tried to make other bhikkhus feel afraid or uneasy.
In the Vinaya context, such pericopes were recorded to establish clear precedents for the Sangha community. The Buddha taught the Dharma not only through discourses but also through the establishment of specific monastic rules, in order to protect integrity and harmony in the community of practice.
Main Content
The Bhiṁsāpana discourse deals with bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs intentionally frightening others through actions, words, or gestures. This is regarded as a violation of the discipline, specifically a pācittiya, that is, an offense requiring confession and restoration.
Acts of "causing fear" may include deliberately making sudden noises, threatening gestures, or strange words intended to disturb another's concentration, especially when they are practicing quietude or meditation. The purpose of this rule is not to exclude harmless jokes, but to prevent deliberate actions that intentionally harm the psychological or spiritual safety of companions.
This rule reflects a core principle of the Buddha-Dharma: respect for the integrity of each individual, protection of a wholesome environment for practice, and maintenance of harmonious relationships within the Sangha community. When a monastic deliberately frightens another, they violate the principle of loving-kindness (mettā) and damage trust in the community.
Practical Meaning
The Bhiṁsāpana discourse teaches us that Buddhist practice is not only a personal matter but also a responsibility toward those around us.
🌏 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.