Bi Pc 1919. Cursing
Pāli / Sanskrit:Paraabhisapana
A nun who curses herself or another must confess the offense.
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The Rule on Cursing (Paraabhisapana)
Background
The Vinaya Piṭaka of Theravāda Buddhism records the detailed rules governing the conduct of bhikkhunīs. The Paraabhisapana (mutual cursing) is one of the disciplinary rules (vinaya) belonging to the Pātimokkha — the collection of offenses that bhikkhunīs must acknowledge and confess when transgressed. The appearance of this rule reflects the context of the time when the Buddha was still present in the world, when nuns would sometimes be provoked or fail to restrain their minds, leading to the utterance of coarse or abusive speech.
This rule is not merely a matter of formal discipline; it also lays the foundation for the cultivation of the mind — coarse words arise from a defiled mind and harm the purity of the fourfold community. From the Theravāda perspective, a nun's transgression of this rule is consistent with the teachings that certain realms of rebirth are especially sensitive to speech and mental states.
Main Content
According to the regulations in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, if a nun curses or abuses herself, or curses and abuses another person using coarse language of an offensive or degrading nature, she commits an offense of Pācittiya — an offense that must be acknowledged before the community of nuns or before a fellow nun.
The distinction between cursing oneself and cursing another does not alter the nature of the offense. Whether directed outward or inward, the use of coarse speech reflects a loss of mental restraint and violates the principle of non-harming (ahiṃsā). This offense is classified as Pācittiya — a lesser degree than offenses of Saṅghādisesa (which require confession before the fourfold assembly), yet it still demands public acknowledgment and sincere repentance.
The rule emphasizes that confession must take place immediately, without delay, so that the mind of the offender may be purified. The process of confession is not merely an outward form; it must involve genuine contrition arising from within, along with a clear recognition of the harm that has been caused.
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