San Lo Bi Pn 46Making Not Be a Monk

Explanation of San Lo Bi Pn 46: Things That Make One Not a Bhikkhu

Background

This sutra belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, a core part of the Pāli Canon. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not merely a set of restrictive rules, but the foundation that protects the Sangha community and maintains the spirit of pure practice. San Lo Bi Pn 46 (Sankhāravatthuppavattikanda — matters concerning formative factors) refers to actions or conditions that cause a person no longer to be regarded as a true bhikkhu in the Buddhist sense.

In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, determining who is officially a bhikkhu is not based solely on the formal ordination ceremony, but also requires standards of ethics, qualification, and adherence to the precepts. This sutra arose from specific situations in the early Sangha community, when the Buddha and the elders had to resolve legal issues concerning the status of members.

Main Content

San Lo Bi Pn 46 concerns the conditions or actions that cause one to lose the status of a bhikkhu. According to the Theravāda tradition, there are serious offenses (pārājika — offenses causing loss of status) and other violations with definite consequences. The “things that make one not a bhikkhu” include actions contrary to the four basic prohibitions of a bhikkhu:

First are sexual acts, violating the vow of brahmacarya. Second are actions related to stealing property, breaking the forward discipline of a bhikkhu. Third are lies or false claims concerning sacred Dharma and superhuman wisdom. Fourth are acts of deliberately exciting the mind or drinking alcohol.

In addition to these pārājika offenses, the sutra also mentions more complex situations: one who abandons the discipline, one who deliberately proclaims deviation from the Buddha-Dharma, or one who intentionally commits a grave offense without repentance. These are not only personal matters, but affect the unity and purity of the monastic community.