San Sarv Bu Pm Tf 11 Np 24Bribing Weavers

Mahāpesakāra Sutta (Bribed Weavers)

Background

The Mahāpesakāra Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Pitaka, the Patimokkha section in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. This is not a doctrinal sermon, but a rule governing the conduct of monks and nuns. The word “Mahāpesakāra” means greatly harmful actions, specifically bribing or maintaining weavers for improper purposes.

The historical background of this rule is connected with an incident in the early community of monks and nuns. Some nuns used money and material goods to establish relationships with weavers in order to exploit them, or to create transactions related to matters inappropriate for renunciants. The Buddha, having seen this conduct, declared an additional prohibition to protect the purity of the monastics and maintain the reputation of the Fourfold Assembly.

Main Content

This rule stipulates that nuns may not bribe or maintain weavers to serve improper purposes. More specifically, it forbids nuns:

First, from using money or property to establish relationships incompatible with the renunciant way of life.

Second, from creating financial transactions for the purpose of exploitation or improper business.

Third, if a violation occurs, the nun commits a Pacittiya offense, that is, a fault requiring admission and repentance before the monastic community.

This rule extends beyond cloth; it represents a larger principle of not using property for gain or to establish inappropriate relationships. Weavers are mentioned because they were people who had frequent contact with the monastic community in preparing Kathina robes and other requisites of practice.

Practical Meaning

The deeper principle of Mahāpesakāra is the protection of the purity of renunciants (brahmacariyā).