Bi Ss 1414. Causing a schism in the Sangha
Pāli / Sanskrit:Saṅghabheda
A nun who tries to cause a schism in the Order is to be suspended.
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Saṅghabheda (Creating a Schism in the Sangha)
Background
The Saṅghabheda is a rule (Sutta Vibhaṅga) belonging to the Bhikkhuṇī Vibhaṅga — the section of the Vinaya pertaining specifically to nuns within the Theravāda tradition. The background of this rule arose from the early history of the Sangha, when nuns (bhikkhuṇī) were first formally admitted by the Buddha into the monastic community.
During this period, the unity of the Sangha was a matter of the utmost importance. A divided Sangha would lose its collective strength, affecting the spread of the Dharma and the flourishing of the Teaching. For this reason, the Buddha established rules to protect this harmony, and causing a schism was regarded as one of the most serious offenses a monastic could commit.
The Saṅghabheda is recorded in detail in Bi Ss 14 (Bhikkhuṇī Saṃyutta 14) of the Vinaya Piṭaka, reflecting the Buddha's profound concern for the internal cohesion of the Sangha.
Main Content
According to the traditional Pāli Vinaya, a nun who attempts to cause a schism in the Sangha is subject to suspension (pabbajjā) — that is, she is temporarily suspended from enjoying monastic privileges until she ceases her efforts to create division and seeks reconciliation.
The act of causing a schism is clearly defined in the Pāli Vinaya: it is not merely a matter of disagreement, but a deliberate act of separating a substantial group from the Sangha, or of publicly declaring that the Dharma and Vinaya are no longer valid, in order to lead others to follow oneself rather than the common guidance of the Sangha.
This rule applies equally to all female members, from novices (sāmaṇerī) to the most senior nuns. There are no exceptions based on status or length of practice within the Sangha. This is an expression of the principle of the Dharma, not of personal authority.
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