Bu Pc 4242. Dismissing a monk during almsround
Pāli / Sanskrit:Uyyojana
A monk who takes another monk on almsround, but then tells him to leave because he wants to misbehave, must confess the offense.
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
THE SCRIPTURE ON DISMISSAL DURING ALMSROUND (UYYOJANA)
Background
In the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka records the regulations governing the communal life of the Saṅgha in order to maintain diligence, purity, and harmony. The rule Bu Pc 42, concerning "Uyyojana" (dismissal), reflects an actual situation that arose within the monastic community during the time of the Buddha. It pertains to the practice of bhikkhus going on almsround—moving from house to house to receive food—a sacred act in Buddhist practice.
This rule is recorded in the Pātimokkha (the code of discipline) with a clear purpose: to instruct bhikkhus in integrity, mutual respect, and conduct in accordance with the proper Dhamma. The historical context reveals that transgressions within the Saṅgha concern not only actions themselves but also the intentions and hidden purposes lying behind those actions.
Main Content
The rule set forth in Bu Pc 42 centers on the following situation: a bhikkhu who is going on almsround together with another bhikkhu then tells that companion to go away. The crucial element is the intention of the one who dismisses—he wishes to separate from the other because he is scheming to behave in a manner that is improper and unbefitting a bhikkhu.
According to the Pāli Vinaya, this is considered a pācittiya offense (a transgression requiring confession), that is, an offense less grave than the most serious violations but one that nonetheless requires public acknowledgment before the Saṅgha. The subtle distinction of this rule lies in the following: if a person simply departs, or tells another to depart, without any wrongful intention, there is no offense. However, if the motivation involves scheming to engage in improper conduct—such as seeking an opportunity for an unsuitable encounter, committing an act of sexual misconduct, or engaging in behavior contrary to the spirit of the renunciant life—the offense is recognized.
The law of Theravāda Buddhism does not merely prohibit harmful actions; it also prohibits the harmful intentions and purposes that lie behind them. This is a profound distinction that sets Buddhist ethics apart from ordinary secular legal systems.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.