Bu Pc 7171. Not accepting legitimate correction
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sahadhammika
A monk who uses a ploy as an excuse for not keeping the monastic code must confess the offense.
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Commentary on the Sahadhammika Sutta (Bu Pc 71)
Not Accepting Legitimate Correction
Background
The Pātimokkha code of Theravāda Buddhism sets out offenses and the manner in which the Sangha handles them. Rule 71, a Pācittiya offense (requiring confession), recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, points to a situation that is subtle yet capable of causing harm to the trust and discipline of the monastic community: when a bhikkhu has committed a violation of the precepts, instead of honestly acknowledging the fault, he employs cunning means or various pretexts to refuse or not accept legitimate correction from fellow practitioners.
Within the context of the Theravāda monastic community, correction (sahadhamma, Pāli) is an indispensable act of compassion. When a bhikkhu is reminded about conduct that is inconsistent with the Vinaya, accepting that instruction—whether it comes from an ordinary fellow practitioner or from senior elders—is an important step toward rectifying one's actions and maintaining the spirit of community. This rule is intended to prevent attitudes of arrogance, defensiveness, and stubbornness that can cause a bhikkhu to deviate from the path of practice.
Main Content
The Sahadhammika rule (Pāli: sahadhammika) addresses the case of a bhikkhu who has committed a Vinaya offense but does not accept another's pointing it out. More specifically, when corrected regarding conduct contrary to the precepts, he may offer false reasons or employ cunning means—such as "I have not committed an offense," "you have misunderstood," "this is a special case," or even asserting that his action was in accordance with the Dhamma.
This offense is classified as a Pācittiya, that is, one of the offenses requiring confession (spoken individually, person to person). Specifically, if a bhikkhu, after committing an offense, refuses to acknowledge it or to receive legitimate correction from fellow practitioners, he must personally confess this fault before another bhikkhu.
The act of violation here is not the original Vinaya transgression itself, but rather the refusal to accept or the non-acceptance of the community's corrective support.
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