San Lo Bi Vb Pc 10Annoyance

VILEKHANA TEXT - EXPLANATION ACCORDING TO THE THERAVĀDA VINAYA

Background

Vilekhana (writing on) is a Pātimokkha violation, a basic disciplinary rule, recorded in the traditional Theravāda Vinaya, specifically in the Pācittiya section, those acts requiring confession. This text reflects a situation from the time of the Buddha Gotama in the Western Region, when bhikkhus were permitted to write in order to support study and practice, but abuses occurred.

The background of its arising: bhikkhus used writing on their own hairs or on other people’s bodies for purposes other than legitimate medical or study-related reasons. This was an act that caused annoyance (vilekhana: vile, rubbing; khana, disturbance) to other bhikkhus or to oneself. The Buddha saw that this action, though not a grave moral violation, breached carefulness in Sangha life and created disharmony.

Main Content

The Theravāda Vinaya determines that writing on a person or on parts of another bhikkhu’s body without a legitimate reason, such as healing, medical treatment, or genuine need, is considered a Pācittiya, a light penalty requiring private confession before the Sangha.

This rule reflects an important principle in the Vinaya: respect for the body and peace of fellow practitioners. A bhikkhu should not arbitrarily trouble others, even under the appearance of a joke or an unintentional action. This rule also protects the Dharma-like harmony of the community of practice, where all need concentration and peace in order to progress on the path.

The Pācittiya penalty is not a form of exclusionary punishment or loss of status as a bhikkhu. Instead, the offender must openly confess before a fellow bhikkhu in the same Sangha. This is a profound form of training, helping the bhikkhu recognize the mistake and arouse the intention to become complete, thereby avoiding repetition.