Xct Mu Bu Vb As 4Majority Decision

THE DISCOURSE ON MAJORITY DECISION (Yebhuyyasikā)

Background

The Discourse on Majority Decision belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, within the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the rules for bhikkhunīs (female monastics). The background of this discourse concerns matters of governance within the monastic community, especially how to resolve disputes or make important decisions in the Sangha.

The Buddha established rules to maintain harmony and order in the monastic community. One important mechanism was the use of majority voting (yebhuyyasikā) for collective decisions. This method ensures that decisions are made openly and fairly, and that they reflect the shared will of the monastic community.

Main Content

The Discourse on Majority Decision sets out the way formal meetings (uposatha) and important decisions of the Sangha are to be conducted. When the community of bhikkhunīs must make a decision on matters of Vinaya, the counting of votes from those who are qualified is decisive. Only those with five years of training (pāsādika) or five years dwelling in the same place (samāna-vihāravāsī) have the right to vote.

The process of majority voting must observe strict conditions: first, the matter to be decided must be clearly announced; next, qualified members are allowed to vote; finally, the result is proclaimed. This method is regarded as one of the four principal ways by which the Sangha makes a lawful decision: voting (anumatikamma), majority voting, voting with postponement, and voting according to the opinion of the presiding elder.

The discourse also emphasizes that the decision of the majority is considered the decision of the entire Sangha, and all members must abide by it, regardless of their personal opinions. This reflects the Buddhist principle of harmony, concord, and cooperation within the community of practice.