Xct Mu Bi Ss 14Getting Angry Over a Legal Issue
Pāli / Sanskrit:Adhikaraṇakupita
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
EXPLANATION OF THE ADHIKARAṆAKUPITA DISCOURSE (GETTING ANGRY OVER A LEGAL ISSUE)
Background
The Adhikaraṇakupita discourse is found in the Pāṭimokkhasaṃvara (the training code) of the Vinaya Piṭaka, reflecting situations that occurred within the Sangha community. These are records of disputes arising among bhikkhus concerning Vinaya matters (adhikaraṇa - legal issue; kupita - angered, annoyed).
In the Early tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is not only a collection of prohibitions, but a tool for cultivating ethics and managing harmony in the Sangha. Every situation recorded in the discourse is rooted in specific events that occurred during the Buddha's lifetime, when different bhikkhus held divergent views on how to practice or apply the rules.
Main Content
Adhikaraṇakupita refers to the condition in which a bhikkhu - or a group of bhikkhus - becomes angry or upset because of some legal issue. This anger may arise from being criticized for violating a rule, or from differing views about how to understand and apply the regulations. The anger (kupita) here is not necessarily a violent rage, but a mood of irritation, displeasure, and the latent danger of causing division in the Sangha (saṃghabheda).
This discourse recognizes that even bhikkhus may fall into negative states of mind when self-regard is wounded or when they feel they have been treated unfairly in matters connected with the Vinaya. Becoming angry over disciplinary regulations reflects a profound psychological phenomenon: when the mind has not yet been refined, even what is regarded as "justice" can become a basis for aversion and misunderstanding.
The implicit message is that the Vinaya is effective only when it is grasped with compassion, deep understanding, and right intention. If applied rigidly or out of pride, it becomes a tool that wounds rather than heals.
🌏 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.