San Sarv Bi Pm Tf 44 Pj 6Conceal Offenses
Pāli / Sanskrit:Vajjappaṭicchādikā
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The Discourse on Concealing Faults (Vajjappaṭicchādikā)
Background
The Discourse on Concealing Faults is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Pātimokkha Samvaranīya, the rules that must be observed. This is one of the Pārajika offenses, offenses equivalent to expulsion from the Sangha, that bhikkhus must observe.
This discourse arose from specific situations in the collective practice of bhikkhus during the Buddha's time. When a bhikkhu commits a serious fault, especially one connected with bodily conduct (kāya-sancarā), concealing it or failing to acknowledge the truth of that fault is considered a violation of the fundamental principles of the Sangha. This is not only a personal matter, but also affects the purity and unity of the entire community of monks and nuns.
Main Content
The Discourse on Concealing Faults stipulates that if a bhikkhu commits a fault of the Pārajika or Saṅghādisesa class, an offense requiring handling by the Sangha, and then conceals or denies that action, especially when directly questioned or when the truth is discovered, this act of concealment is considered another Pārajika.
The concealed fault may involve violations concerning sexuality, theft, killing, or lying about superhuman attainments. Yet the focus of this discourse is not those actions themselves, but the attitude toward truth: the act of concealment, denial, or deliberate deception of the Sangha about what has occurred.
In particular, the discourse emphasizes that even when the original fault may be remedied through a certain procedure, the act of concealing it cannot be remedied in that way. This shows the high value placed on openness and honesty in the community of practice.
Practical Meaning
The Discourse on Concealing Faults teaches that honesty is the foundation of the Sangha.
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