Xct Mu Bu Vb Pc 3Malicious Talebearing
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pesuñña
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The Pesuñña Sutta: Malicious Slanderous Speech
Context
Pesuñña (slander, malicious speaking ill) is one of the violations in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition. Regulations concerning this type of offense are recorded in the Pātimokkha, the code governing the conduct of monastics. This prohibition reflects Buddhism’s profound understanding of how false and slanderous speech can damage a community of practice.
Pesuñña differs from ordinary forms of lying. It is the deliberate act of uttering loose, distorted words or creating discord among members of the Sangha. It is a combination of three factors: speech, malicious intention (the wish to cause division), and the action carried out. According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, this is not a light offense, and in some cases it constitutes a higher-level offense.
Main Content
In the Pātimokkha, Pesuñña is listed as a prohibited act that monks and nuns must strictly observe. The sutta states that one gone forth must not speak divisive words, meaning words intended to create disharmony, break relationships, or slander others.
The specific provisions identify three core elements of Pesuñña. First, there must be speech, not merely something that is actually true. Second, there must be malicious intention: the speaker must know it is bad or divisive, or wish to cause harm. Third, there must be a result or an effort to make others know these words.
The sutta also distinguishes between malicious slanderous speech (Pesuñña) and legitimate criticism or admonition in the context of monastic governance. It does not forbid speech that is truly necessary to maintain discipline and purity; it forbids only false or embellished speech intended to cause division.
Practical Meaning
The prohibition of Pesuñña reflects a core principle of Buddhism: non-harming. A peaceful community of practice can exist only when each member is committed to truthful speech and wholesome speech (kusala vāca).
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