Mpt Pc 83Deception
Pāli / Sanskrit:Mohana
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The Discourse on Deception (Mohana Sutta)
Background
This discourse is recorded in the Vinaya Pitaka, specifically in the Patimokkha section of the Theravāda school. In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Pitaka is not merely a set of administrative regulations but contains profound teachings on ethics and human psychology. The Mohana Discourse (Deception) is built upon specific situations encountered by the Buddha and his disciples in the course of teaching the Dharma. These were cases in which bhikkhus or lay followers used deception as a means to gain personal benefit or conceal their own mistakes.
This historical background reflects a time when the Sangha was developing, and the Buddha needed to establish clear principles to protect the integrity of the monastic community as well as preserve the trust of practitioners.
Main Content
The Mohana Discourse focuses on deceptive conduct (patigha mohana), that is, deliberately concealing the truth, altering events, or pretending with the purpose of creating a false impression. According to Theravāda teaching, deception is regarded as a blameworthy offense if it is carried out with an impure mental intention, specifically with greed (lobha), hatred (dosa), and delusion (moha).
The discourse points out that deception is not an isolated act, but an expression of the presence of deep psychological entanglements. A person deceives not only for immediate benefit, but because they have not yet recognized that truth is the foundation of every virtuous action. The discourse emphasizes that bhikkhus must be committed to truth (sacca) as an inseparable part of the Noble Eightfold Path (Ariya Atthangika Magga), especially Right Speech (Samma Vaca).
Specific examples in the Vinaya Pitaka include cases such as a bhikkhu pretending to possess supernatural powers that he does not actually have, or concealing violations in order to avoid discipline by the Sangha. Such conduct not only violates the rules but also weakens the moral foundation of the community.
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