San Mu Bu Pm GBM 3 Pc 66Scaring

The Bhiṁsāpana Text: On the Act of Causing Fear

Background

The Bhiṁsāpana text (Scaring, causing fear) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically the Pāṭimokkha Saṃvara, the rules concerning step-by-step violations in monastic life. This is a legal text connected with Pācittiya offenses, minor offenses requiring confession and purification after violation.

According to the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka records occasions during the Buddha’s lifetime when he issued training rules based on specific events that occurred in the Sangha. Each rule arose from a practical cause, from actions of bhikkhus who violated discipline, leading the Buddha to declare a rule in order to maintain happiness and harmony in the practice community.

This text specifically concerns the act of “causing fear” (bhiṁsāpana), a violation that disturbs the monastic community and especially affects another person’s practice.

Main Content

The act of “bhiṁsāpana” (causing fear) is usually understood as deliberate actions that create anxiety, fear, or psychological instability in others, especially bhikkhunīs or people who have aroused the aspiration to train in the Sangha. This may include actions such as acting aggressively, threatening, or using alarming words in order to intimidate another.

In the Pācittiya context, this kind of offense is considered a complete wrongful act, though not as grave as offenses leading to expulsion from the Sangha (Pārājika). Nevertheless, it must be corrected through confession during the full disciplinary assembly (Uposatha).

This legal text reflects a Buddhist ethical principle: not harming others by mind, speech, or action. More specifically, it emphasizes protecting the peaceful mental state and capacity for concentration of everyone in the practice community. A bhikkhu must always be careful about the negative effects his actions may cause.