Bu Pc 6161. Intentionally killing a living being
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sañcicca
A monk who intentionally kills a living being must confess the offense.
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Commentary on Bu Pc 61: Sañcicca (Intentional Killing of a Living Being)
Background
Rule 61 concerning the act of intentionally killing a living being (Sañcicca pāṇa-atipāta) is found in the Pātimokkha — the foundational code of discipline of the Buddhist Sangha. According to the Theravāda tradition, the Pātimokkha is the collection of training rules that monks must observe. This rule is recited twice each lunar month (on the Uposatha day) to remind practitioners of the causes, conditions, and consequences of transgression.
The act of killing is considered one of the most serious offenses. Rule 61 specifically states: when a monk intentionally (sañcicca) kills any living being — whether large or small — that person must fulfill the requirement of confession (pāṭidesanīya), meaning they must openly acknowledge their fault before the monastic community.
Main Content
In the Vinaya Piṭaka, this rule derives from the foundational principle of non-harm (ahiṃsā) — that is, to do no injury. This is one of the five basic precepts that both monastics and laypeople should uphold. However, for monks and nuns, this regulation is articulated with greater clarity and detail.
The decisive factor in this rule is intention (sañcicca). If a monk accidentally kills a living being in the course of daily tasks (for example, when sweeping and not being sufficiently careful), this does not constitute a violation of the principle. However, if that person has a clear purpose to kill — regardless of the motivation, whether as punishment or for any other reason — then a transgression has occurred.
The manner in which the offense is established also depends on whether the being that was killed is regarded as possessing individuality (attabhāva). Nevertheless, the general principle is: any living being whatsoever is protected by the Pātimokkha. The act of confession (ñatti) must be performed in the presence of the monastic community, and the offender must confess sincerely, without concealment.
Practical Significance
Rule 61 is not merely an administrative regulation but is also an expression of deep Buddhist ethics.
🌏 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.