San Mg Bu Pm Pc 16Throwing Out a Monastic

The Nikkaḍḍhana Sutta: Excluding a Bhikkhu

Background

The Nikkaḍḍhana Sutta (Excluding a Bhikkhu) appears in the Pātimokkha section of the traditional Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically among the Pācittiya rules. This is one of the rules governing discipline in the Sangha community, intended to maintain purity and unity in the monastery.

In the historical context, the Buddha established disciplinary codes based on specific situations that arose within the community of bhikkhus. The Nikkaḍḍhana Sutta reflects principles concerning how to handle bhikkhus who violate rules, especially cases in which separation or exclusion from the monastic community is needed until they correct their conduct.

Main Content

Nikkaḍḍhana refers to the detailed rules concerning how the monastery handles a bhikkhu when he commits certain faults. The term “nikkaḍḍhana” means “separating,” “removing,” or “forcing out,” indicating a form of disciplinary sanction by the religious community.

According to the Pali tradition, when a bhikkhu commits offenses of a certain serious nature, such as failing to comply with the corrections of the monastery or actions that create division in the community, the monastery has the right to decide to exclude that bhikkhu from communal activities. During the period of exclusion, the bhikkhu must live separately, may not participate in ceremonies, may not receive offerings from the people, and is separated from his fellow members of the Sangha.

This process is not permanent exclusion but a form of correction. The bhikkhu has the opportunity to amend his conduct, follow the guidance of the monastery, and finally be restored to his position. The conditions for restoration depend on the degree of the violation and the bhikkhu’s attitude of repentance.