San Lo Bu Pm Ss 8Making a Groundless Accusation Out of Anger
Pāli / Sanskrit:Duṭṭhadosa
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THE SCRIPTURE ON GROUNDLESS ACCUSATION FROM AN ANGRY MIND — An Exposition According to the Pāli Canon
Background
This scripture belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the collection that regulates discipline in the monastic community of Theravāda Buddhism. The term "Duṭṭhadosa," translated as "a groundless accusation out of anger," reflects one of the serious ethical violations that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs may commit. This is not a single historical story but a training rule intended to protect the purity of the Sangha and maintain harmony in the community of practitioners.
The background of this type of violation reflects a situation in which a member of the Sangha, driven by anger (dosa), accuses another person of faults they did not commit without proper basis. This is an act that harms the reputation of the accused, destroys trust within the community, and directly violates the principle of truthfulness (sacca), one of the core virtues monastics must cultivate.
Main Content
In the Vinaya Piṭaka, a groundless accusation made out of anger is regarded as a serious violation. It does not concern only the act of lying or negligence, but also includes the factor of intention (cetanā). Anger is not merely an emotion, but one of the root causes (mūla) among the three unwholesome roots, together with greed (lobha) and delusion (moha).
When someone accuses another person out of anger, they violate many ethical principles. First, they speak false words (musāvāda). Second, they damage the honor and reputation of the accused person. Third, they disturb harmony in the Sangha, which the Buddha regarded as a very grave offense.
The Vinaya Piṭaka states that such actions must be handled according to specific disciplinary rules. The offender must publicly apologize, acknowledge their action, and show genuine remorse. If the act causes great harm, it may lead to heavier penalties, depending on the nature and degree of the accusation.
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