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Pāli / Sanskrit:Manussaviggaha
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DISCOURSE ON KILLING A HUMAN BEING (Manussaviggaha)
Background
The discourse on killing a human being (Manussaviggaha) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pārājika section, the prohibitions of the highest severity and exclusion. It is one of the most basic rules of Buddhist discipline, reflecting a foundational ethical principle of Theravāda Buddhism.
According to the Theravāda tradition, this discourse was taught by the Buddha in order to establish monastic discipline (Sangha) on the basis of protecting life. It is not secular law, but an ethical norm for those gone forth who wish to maintain purity of mind and follow the Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya-Aṭṭhaṅgika-Magga). The prohibition against killing a human being is a concrete expression of the first precept (Pāṇātipātā veramaṇī), refraining from killing living beings.
Main Content
In the Vinaya Piṭaka, the Manussaviggaha discourse is directly related to violating the first rule among the Five Precepts (Pañcasīla) that all Buddhists are to observe. Specifically, it identifies cases in which intentionally killing a living human being includes all the elements of an act that creates the gravest karma (kamma).
The discourse clearly identifies three necessary factors for the act to constitute complete killing: the object must be a living human being (manussaviggaha), there must be an intention to kill (cetanā), and actions must be carried out that lead to death. This rule applies with particular strictness to those gone forth in the Sangha.
The Pārājika rule prescribes that if a monk or nun intentionally kills a human being, or helps that person commit suicide, they are permanently excluded from the Sangha, with no way to be restored through penance or public confession. This is the gravest violation in the Buddhist legal system, showing the real weight of the act of killing a human being.
Practical Meaning
The Manussaviggaha discourse is not only a legal rule for the Sangha, but also a profound lesson on the value of life. It teaches us that all living beings, especially human beings, have the right to live and to be protected. Death is not a light matter or without consequence.
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