Xct Mu Bu Pm Ss 13Difficult to Correct
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dubbaca
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DUBBACA SUTTA - THE PERSON DIFFICULT TO SUBDUE
Context
The Dubbaca Sutta (The Person Difficult to Subdue) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, one of the texts governing the community of female monastics in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. This sutta was compiled to guide how to deal with monastics who are difficult in character and refuse to correct their faults even after repeated admonition.
In the context of early Buddhism, when the Sangha and bhikkhunī community were still small and every regulation arose from specific cases, the Buddha set forth guidelines to protect the purity of the monastic community. Dubbaca (from Pāli: dubba- = difficult; caca = action/character) is a term indicating conduct or a person of stubborn character, difficult to correct. This sutta does not speak about adjudication in one particular case, but is a general principle in the Vinaya Piṭaka concerning how to treat monastics who violate regulations and do not listen to admonition.
Main Content
According to the Vinaya Piṭaka tradition, conduct that is “difficult to subdue” is identified in cases where a female monastic violates the Pātimokkha, the basic disciplinary code, but after being admonished the first time, the second time, and even the third time, still refuses to correct herself or acknowledge her fault.
The educational method established by Theravāda Buddhism is gradual. First, the authorized person, usually senior monastics or leaders of the community, must: (1) admonish once; (2) admonish a second time; (3) admonish a third time. If, after three warnings, the offender still refuses to correct herself, she is regarded as “difficult to subdue,” and the community has the right to apply other measures, including requiring her to undergo a temporary probationary procedure (parivāsa) or other measures according to the nature of the offense.
The important point is that this process is always carried out publicly within the community (Sangha) and in the presence of other monastics, ensuring fairness and transparency.
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