Mpt Pc 16Throwing Out a Monastic
Pāli / Sanskrit:Nikkaḍḍhana
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The Discourse on Expelling a Bhikkhu (Nikkaḍḍhana)
Background
The Nikkaḍḍhana Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha section of the monastic discipline (Saṃghadisesa), with the theme of rules governing the conduct of the bhikkhu community. The historical context of this discourse arose from real situations in the Sangha, the community of bhikkhus in the Buddha’s time, when some monastics violated discipline or created disharmony within the community.
The term “Nikkaḍḍhana” (expulsion, driving out) refers to a strict form of discipline applied when a bhikkhu causes significant disorder in the Sangha. This is not an arbitrary punishment, but a final measure after other steps of warning and correction have been carried out.
Main Content
Nikkaḍḍhana is the process by which the Sangha, through a formal meeting, decides to expel a bhikkhu from the community. This occurs only when that bhikkhu repeatedly refuses to follow disciplinary rules, causes discord, or shows an attitude of opposition toward the Sangha.
The procedure follows strict principles. First, the Sangha must clearly warn the bhikkhu about his offending conduct. If the bhikkhu persists in his wrong behavior or stubbornly refuses to change, the Sangha convenes a formal meeting. There, the bhikkhus issue a decision (anuññatti) to expel the bhikkhu from the Sangha.
The purpose of Nikkaḍḍhana is not punishment for the sake of punishment, but the protection of the integrity of the community of practice. It is seen as a medicinal measure for removing a “disease” that threatens the health of the entire Sangha. This reflects the view that the community has a responsibility to maintain the purity of the Sangha (saṃgha-suddhī) so that the Buddha-Dharma may continue to be practiced authentically.
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