Xct Mu Bu Pm Pc 56Living With an Ejected Monastic

UKKHITTASAMBHOGA SUTTA: LIVING WITH ONE EXPELLED FROM THE SANGHA

Background

The Ukkhittasambhoga Sutta (Living with one expelled from the Sangha) is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the basic rules for bhikkhus. This sutta reflects complex situations in communal monastic life when a member has been expelled for violating the discipline.

In the Theravāda tradition, “expulsion from the Sangha” (ukkhittā, outside the community) is not a permanent punishment, but a temporary disciplinary measure intended to help the offender recognize the fault and reform. However, during this process, practical issues concerning shared living, sharing property, and social contact among members of the Sangha needed to be handled clearly.

This sutta was recorded to clarify legal points concerning proper conduct when living with someone who is under expulsion, in order to protect the integrity of the community and the opportunity for reform of the expelled individual.

Main Content

The specific content of this sutta in the Vinaya Piṭaka concerns restrictions on communication and shared living between the Sangha and an expelled person. The basic principle is this: the expelled person, even if still staying in the same monastery, may not participate in official communal activities, may not share a sleeping place, may not eat together with the community, and may not be enrolled in Sangha meetings.

However, the sutta also stipulates that the remaining members must not be rude or cruel toward the expelled person. Treatment must remain serious but ethical. Other bhikkhus may still have necessary contact, but within the framework of the discipline being applied.

The important point is that the sutta does not permit cruel or vengeful behavior toward the expelled person, but only maintains clear boundaries until that person sincerely acknowledges the fault and is restored to standing.