Mpt Pc 6Truthfully Announcing Superhuman Attainments
Pāli / Sanskrit:Bhūtārocana
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THE BHŪTĀROCANA DISCOURSE: TRUTHFULLY ANNOUNCING SUPERNORMAL POWERS
Background
The Bhūtārocana discourse (Bhūtārocana Pātimokkha, known by the English title "Truthfully Announcing Superhuman Attainments") is an important disciplinary rule in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition. This rule appears in the Pāṭimokkha, the list of sacred precepts that bhikkhus must observe.
The historical context of this discourse concerns the Buddha and the early disciples encountering cases of devotees falsely claiming spiritual attainments. Some people declared that they had reached levels of concentration, realization (paññā), or supernormal powers (iddhisiddhi) that in fact they had never attained. This was a serious falsehood within the Sangha, eroding trust and defiling the reputation of the Dharma.
To protect the purity of the Sangha, the Buddha established the rule that one must not falsely declare superhuman attainments (iddhi). This rule reflects Buddhism's deep commitment to truthfulness (sacca) and care of the mind.
Main Content
The Bhūtārocana discourse establishes a disciplinary rule for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs: one must not declare or tell others that one has attained superhuman powers, such as psychic powers (iddhisiddhi), divine eye (dibbacakkhu), knowledge of others' minds (cetopariya-ñāṇa), or celestial vision (dibbasonacakhu), if in reality one does not possess them. Conversely, even if one has truly attained such accomplishments, one should not proclaim them, but should keep them private or present them responsibly before suitable people.
The reason behind this rule is to prevent self-exaltation, exploitation of fame for gain, and the creation of doubt in the community. When a member of the Sangha speaks recklessly about attainments not yet achieved, this is not only an ethical violation but also a betrayal of the trust that devotees place in the Sangha.
This rule also protects the practitioners themselves.
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