San Lo Bu Pm Pj 4Laying False Claim to Superhuman Attainments
Pāli / Sanskrit:Uttarimanussadhamma
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Explanation of the Sutra on Falsely Claiming Superhuman Attainments
Background
The Uttarimanussadhamma sutra (Falsely Claiming Superhuman Attainments) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Sutta Vibhaṅga section of the Theravāda Buddha-Dharma tradition. This is one of the important training regulations intended to protect the truthfulness and dignity of the Sangha.
In the early period of the Sangha, there were bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs who deliberately claimed that they had attained superhuman knowledges (uttarimanussadhamma), including: divine eye, divine ear, knowledge of others’ minds, freedom in recollection (the ability to remember past lives), and supramundane wisdom (arahattamagga-phala). These claims were not genuine realization, but only lies intended to increase faith, gain, or fame from donors.
The Buddha saw that this falsehood caused serious harm to the Sangha, distorted the Noble Dharma, and aroused doubt in people of good heart. Therefore, he laid down a rule to prevent it.
Main Content
According to this sutra, a monastic who falsely declares that he has attained superhuman accomplishments commits a Tạ Đàm offense (Sanghadisesa) — one of the grave offenses in the Vinaya Piṭaka. Tạ Đàm is not a prohibitive offense (Pārajika) leading to expulsion, but it must be disclosed before the Sangha and subjected to the prescribed correction.
The spirit of this rule is: whatever the motive — even if one thinks it will strengthen the faith of others or promote the Buddha-Dharma — lying about superhuman attainments is still a distortion of truth. This violates the principles of meditation and observance (khyati), two foundations of Theravāda practice.
The sutra also clearly distinguishes truthful claims (if one actually possesses these abilities) from false statements. Only claims that are true, demonstrable, or recognized by others who have attained realization are considered valid.
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