Xct Mu Bi Pc 7Announcing a Grave Offense
Pāli / Sanskrit:Duṭṭhullārocana
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Duṭṭhullārocana Discourse (Announcing a Grave Offense)
Background
Duṭṭhullārocana, or “Announcing a Grave Offense,” is an important part of the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, belonging to the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, the disciplinary code for female bhikkhus. This discourse records the regulations of the Buddha Gotama when he established the community of women gone forth, in order to maintain discipline and purity within the community of monks and nuns.
This is not a discourse teaching lofty theory, but a practical code of discipline, a means for governing the community of practice. The basic principle of the Vinaya Piṭaka is to help bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs train the mind, protect the honor of the Sangha of monks and nuns, and create favorable conditions for practice. The “announcement” (rocana, from rocanā) of an offense is an important step in the disciplinary process, helping the community know of the violation and find a way to remedy it.
Main Content
The Duṭṭhullārocana section establishes the manner of announcing offenses of the “Duṭṭhulla” type, that is, grave offenses that need to be made public within the community. This differs from minor offenses that may be handled privately or through other Sangha legal procedures.
When a female bhikkhu commits such offenses, for example serious faults related to morality, improper conduct, or violation of basic prohibitions, the community has the right and duty to announce the matter. The announcement is carried out according to a definite procedure: a member stands forth and announces before the community of monks and nuns, clearly stating the nature of the violation, the name of the person who violated, and asking the community to witness it. This creates an official record, not only of the wrongful action but also of the position of the Sangha of monks and nuns in maintaining discipline.
This rule reflects a profound principle in Theravāda Buddhism: transparency and communal responsibility. There is no concealment or covering up of serious violations.
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