Bu Pc 1717. Evicting a monk

Nikkaḍḍhana Sutta (Eviction of a Monastic)

Background

This rule appears in the Pātimokkha — the fundamental code of discipline that all monastics must observe. During the early period of the Saṅgha's development, Theravāda Buddhism was particularly attentive to harmony and order within the monastic community. Properties, especially dwelling places such as meditation rooms, individual cells, or buildings belonging to the Saṅgha, were regarded as communal property, not the personal possession of any individual monastic.

The Nikkaḍḍhana rule (nikkaḍḍhati = to evict, to drive out) was established to protect equitable use and to maintain mutual respect among the members. Arbitrarily evicting another monastic from a Saṅgha dwelling reflects an act of aggression, disrespect, and disruption of communal harmony — qualities contrary to the spirit of the Buddha-Dhamma.

Main Content

According to the Pāli Vinaya Piṭaka, when a monastic uses force or insulting speech to evict another monastic from a building or dwelling belonging to the Saṅgha, that monastic commits a Pācittiya offence — one of the offences requiring confession before the community.

The act of "eviction" is understood broadly: it includes not only physically pushing someone out of a dwelling with one's hands or feet, but also such actions as locking the door, moving their belongings, or performing any action with the purpose of compelling them to leave that place. The act must be carried out with deliberate and clear intention.

The conditions for the rule to take effect include: the dwelling must belong to the Saṅgha (Saṅghika), not to a private individual; the person being evicted must be a fully recognized monastic (Bhikkhu); and the act must be intentional and not accidental. If all these conditions are met, the monastic who has performed the act must confess this offence.