San Lo Bi Vb Pc 89Complaining About Others
Pāli / Sanskrit:Paraujjhāpanaka
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Paraujjhāpanaka Sutta: Rule Concerning Complaining About Other Persons
Background
The Paraujjhāpanaka Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically within the Pātimokkha, the basic rules of discipline for bhikkhus. The Vinaya was compiled after the Buddha’s passing into nirvana, through Buddhist Councils led by his chief disciples, in order to preserve and transmit the rules governing the communal life of the Sangha.
The rule concerning complaining (paraujjhāpanaka) appeared in the context of early bhikkhus who lacked wisdom and frequently accused and complained about one another before the public or before persons of authority. This conduct damaged the honor of the Sangha, broke harmony in the community, and had a negative effect on the spread of the Buddha-Dharma in society. For this reason, the Buddha and the disciples prescribed binding rules, Saṃghādisesa or Pācittiya depending on degree, to regulate this conduct.
Main Content
The Paraujjhāpanaka Sutta provides that bhikkhus must not complain about, accuse, or speak ill of other bhikkhus before those who are not bhikkhus, such as upāsakas or laypeople, or before the public without proper reason. This act of complaining includes cases such as speaking about faults, weaknesses in practice, or deliberately obscuring the reputation of a fellow practitioner.
This rule clearly distinguishes between carrying out the work of “corrective responsibility,” in which a violation must be admonished within the Sangha, and publicizing or complaining in order to cause harm. If a bhikkhu truly needs to report the misconduct of a fellow practitioner, this must be done according to the proper legal procedures within the Sangha, not by public and arbitrary complaint.
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