Xct Mu Bu Vb Pc 13Evasive Speech
Pāli / Sanskrit:Aññavādaka
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Explanation of the Aññavādaka Sutta (Evasive Speech)
Context
The Aññavādaka Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha section of the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga (the Discipline for Nuns). These are regulations concerning ethics and the organization of the monastic community in Early Buddhism, recorded to protect the purity of the Sangha.
Aññavādaka (aññavāda = evasive speech; aññā = “I do not know,” “I deny it”) concerns cases in which a monastic is accused of violating a rule, yet denies it or gives unclear explanations in order to avoid responsibility. This sutta identifies the conduct of “plain denial” (aññavāda) as a Sanghadisesa offense, one of the faults requiring special rehabilitative measures within the community.
Main Content
In this context, a bhikkhunī (nun) is found by the community or by an appointed authority to have committed an act that violates the discipline, such as improper contact with men, lying, or breaching the training regimen. When questioned about the matter, instead of acknowledging it or clearly analyzing it, she acts as though she does not know, has forgotten, or deliberately explains it in an ambiguous way to avoid taking responsibility.
The sutta states clearly: this act of “evasion” (aññavāda) is not a minor fault. It is a Sanghadisesa, a distinct offense that must be handled by inviting the whole community to bring the matter to renewed recognition (paṭisāraṇīya kamma). The offender must:
1. Publicly acknowledge the fault before the community
2. Receive specific admonition from senior monastics
3. Undertake a process of rehabilitation to restore trust
The reason the Buddha’s Dharma regards this as important is that evasive speech exists at the intersection of two violations: the wrongful act itself (whether a Pārājika or another Sanghadisesa) and dishonesty within the community. It destroys transparency, the foundation of a practicing Sangha.
Practical Meaning
Aññavādaka teaches that monastics are not permitted to evade moral responsibility through ambiguous speech. In the Theravāda tradition, truthfulness (sacca) is the foundation of all practice.
🌏 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.