Xct Mu Bi Pc 3Malicious Talebearing
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pesuñña
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
DISCOURSE ON SLANDER (PESUÑÑA)
Background
In the Vinaya Piṭaka of the early Buddhist tradition, Pesuñña, the offense of slander, backbiting, or spreading malice between individuals, is identified as one of the actions most harmful to the harmony of the monastic community (Sangha). This discourse does not present a recorded event, but instruction and training concerning the ethical rule (sīla) in the Bhikkhunī and Bhikkhu Pāṭimokkha, the basic code of the Sangha.
Pesuñña is classified in the Vinaya as conduct contrary to Right Speech (sammā-vācā), the third factor of the Noble Eightfold Path. It is not merely lying, but specifically repeating something one has heard, whether true or false, with the intention of causing tension, division, or harm to others. This conduct is regarded as a fairly grave ethical fault because it breaks trust and connection within the community.
Main Content
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, Pesuñña is defined as the act of speaking words or stories intended to make the listener angry or to damage harmony among others. It is important to note that this differs from speaking truthfully or speaking casually; this offense is specifically connected with intention (cetanā).
A bhikkhu or bhikkhunī who speaks ill of someone with the purpose of creating division must openly confess (desanā) in an assembly of the Sangha. If this conduct is repeated many times or performed deliberately, it may be considered a Pāṭidesanīya, an offense requiring public confession, or even a dukkaṭa, an unwholesome act.
The Vinaya Piṭaka also lays down the conditions that make Pesuñña a full offense: the slander must be intended to cause harm, must be words deliberately spoken to a listener, and must actually cause division or discord. If any of these factors is lacking, the conduct may not be considered a complete Pesuñña offense.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.