Xct Mu Bi Pc 91Seeing Obstacles to Ordination but Not Speaking
Pāli / Sanskrit:Seeing obstacles to ordination but not speaking
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Sutra on Seeing Obstacles to Ordination but Not Speaking
Background
This sutra belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, the backbone of the Buddhist Tripiṭaka in the Theravāda tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not a dry code of law but a treasury of wisdom concerning discipline, ethics, and communal cooperation. The regulations in the Vinaya Piṭaka are intended not only to protect the proper order of the Saṃgha but also to serve as means of education so that bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs may diligently practice the Noble Eightfold Path.
The case of "seeing obstacles to ordination but not speaking" reflects a subtle situation in the selection of candidates for ordination. In Theravāda Buddhism, ordination (upasampadā) is a solemn event requiring deep understanding of the candidate's character and physical and mental health. This is the moment when the Sangha community must verify whether the person is suitable for monastic life.
Main Content
This sutra revolves around a complex ethical situation: when a bhikkhu clearly sees obstacles (āvaraṇa) that make a candidate unsuitable for ordination, such as serious illness, an unstable mind, or problems of character, but for some reason remains silent, neither questioning nor reporting to the proper authority. This situation violates the bodhisattva principle, not only protecting the individual but also protecting the proper order and the Dharma.
The Vinaya Piṭaka emphasizes that a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī has the responsibility to arouse the bodhisattva mind, that is, to be ready to speak the truth when obstacles are known. Remaining silent is not "prudence" or "respect for others" but a lack of compassion. It allows an unsuitable person to enter the monastery, potentially leading to suffering for that person and for the community. This rule teaches that speech at the right time, with compassionate intention and wise tone, is an indispensable part of Buddhist practice.
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