Bi Pc 150150. Disparaging the training rules
Pāli / Sanskrit:Vilekhana
A nun who criticizes the monastic code must confess the offense.
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Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 150: Disparaging the Training Rules
Background
The Vinaya Piṭaka is the foundational code of discipline of the early Buddhist Sangha, established specifically for the monastic community of monks and nuns. Within it, the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha is the code of rules for fully ordained nuns, comprising 311 detailed precepts. Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 150 belongs to the section on offenses requiring confession (Pācittiya—lesser transgressions that nonetheless require public acknowledgment).
According to the Theravāda tradition, criticizing or disparaging the training rules is not merely a theoretical matter but relates directly to the spirit of discipline and respect toward the Sangha. When a bhikkhunī openly disparages or censures the training rules (vilekhana), this is regarded as an act that creates division within the community and undermines the confidence of those who are newly practicing.
Main Content
According to the regulation set forth in Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 150, if a nun intentionally criticizes or openly disparages the training rules of the Sangha, such an act is regarded as a Pācittiya offense. This is not simply a matter of personal expression, but a public act that affects the observance of the rules by other nuns.
The deeper reason for this regulation is the protection of the integrity of the Sangha. Each rule within the Vinaya has a historical foundation—they were established by the Blessed One Śākyamuni Buddha in response to specific circumstances that arose, either to prevent harmful conduct or to cultivate the character of the mind. When a bhikkhunī openly disparages these rules, even if her reasons may be personal in nature, it can give rise to confusion and cause other nuns to lose confidence in the legitimacy of the rules they are following.
This regulation also clearly distinguishes between a bhikkhunī having questions about a rule or seeking clarification from an elder. That is not public criticism but a legitimate form of learning. In essence, this offense concerns the "intention" (cetanā) and the "public" character of the act, and not independent thinking or the raising of questions.
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