San Lo Bi Vb Pj 7Conceal Offenses
Pāli / Sanskrit:Vajjappaṭicchādikā
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SUTTA ON CONCEALING FAULTS
Background
Vajjappaṭicchādikā, concealing faults, is one of the prohibitions set forth in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma. This sutta appears in the Pātimokkha, the code of prohibitions for bhikkhus, specifically in the Pārājika category, offenses that cause a bhikkhu to leave the Sangha completely.
The formation of this sutta is connected with the ethical foundation of the Buddhist Sangha. The Buddha built the Sangha not only on the observance of specific precepts, but also on transparency, truthfulness, and responsibility toward the community. When a bhikkhu violates the discipline, concealing, denying, or obstructing the handling of that violation is regarded as an offense even heavier than the initial violation.
Main Content
Vajjappaṭicchādikā focuses on the issue of concealing or intentionally refusing to acknowledge one’s own faults (vajja) within the Sangha. According to Theravāda disciplinary texts, when a bhikkhu intentionally denies a disciplinary violation that he knows he has committed, or conceals the truth in order to avoid disciplinary handling, this is regarded as equivalent to a Pārājika violation.
The basic principle of this sutta is that truthfulness (sacca) is the foundation of Buddhist ethics. A bhikkhu must face his faults directly, without concealing or denying them. Publicly acknowledging one’s faults is regarded as an expression of sincere remorse and the aspiration to practice in accordance with the Dharma. Conversely, concealing faults is not only shamelessness (pahitatta), but also undermines trust and unity in the Sangha.
This sutta also establishes the basis for the mechanism of handling violations in the Sangha, requiring transparency and cooperation from all members. When a fault occurs, the Sangha must know the truth in order to guide, correct, or apply appropriate disciplinary measures according to the Vinaya Piṭaka.
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