Bi Pc 9999. Malicious talebearing
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pesuñña
A nun who spreads malicious gossip about another nun must confess the offense.
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Sutta 99. Malicious Talebearing (Pesuñña)
Background
This sutta belongs to the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha—the code of self-purification for nuns within the Vinaya of the Theravāda tradition. Pesuñña (malicious talebearing) is one of the serious categories of offense that nuns must observe. The context arises from situations within the monastic community of monks and nuns, when speech sows division and causes spiritual harm among its members.
In the time of the Buddha, the community of nuns was not merely a gathering of individual practitioners, but a collective sharing the common goal of awakening. Therefore, speech that undermines harmony—particularly covert, malicious talebearing—was regarded as blameworthy conduct. This rule was established to protect the unity, trust, and spiritual purity of the community.
Main Content
According to the regulations of the Pātimokkha, if a bhikkhunī seeks to speak ill of another bhikkhunī—by speaking privately with the intent to divide, or by repeating words so as to cause estrangement—such conduct is regarded as an offense of Pācittiya (Pāli: Pācittiyasikkhāpada), that is, an offense requiring confession and acknowledgment directly before a member of the Sangha.
The conditions for an offense to occur include: (1) the object is another bhikkhunī, (2) the intention is malicious or divisive in purpose, (3) the act involves speaking ill of or conveying divisive speech, and (4) the other party understands what has been said. Notably, "malicious intent" (pesuññatā) does not refer to sincere criticism or constructive feedback, but to speech that is covert, indirect, and aimed at undermining a relationship.
An important distinction: if a bhikkhunī speaks the truth in order to help another recognize a fault or to protect the community, this does not constitute an offense of Pesuñña. However, if the primary motivation is to cause harm or division, even truthful speech remains prohibited. This rule places emphasis on intention and motivation, not merely on outward conduct.
Practical Significance
The Pesuñña sutta teaches us that speech holds tremendous power to build or to break a community.
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