Bu Pc 8181. Criticizing a robe distribution
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dubbala
If a monk, acting as part of a complete Order, gives away a robe to an official of the Order, but then criticizes the act, he must confess the offense.
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Dubbala Sutta: Criticizing the Distribution of Robes
Background
The Dubbala Sutta (Pāli: Dubbala Pācittiya 81) belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, situated within the Pācittiya section — offenses carrying a lighter penalty (pācittiya). This sutta reflects regulations concerning consistency and accountability in the collective decisions of the Saṅgha.
The historical context of this principle relates to the distribution of requisites for monastic practice, in particular the robe (cīvara), one of the three essential requisites of bhikkhus. In the early Buddhist Saṅgha, decisions concerning communal property were made through the consensus of the entire Saṅgha or through designated officers (Saṅghakamma, "Saṅgha transactions"). This sutta places particular emphasis on the importance of maintaining consistency and trust in decisions that have already been formally recognized.
Main Content
According to the rule set forth in this sutta, if a bhikkhu, acting as part of a fully constituted Saṅgha (sampanna saṅgha), has together with others permitted or approved the distribution of robes to an officer responsible for Saṅgha transactions (kāraka), but afterward comes forward to criticize or find fault with that action, he commits a Pācittiya offense.
The heart of the rule lies in the contradiction between two actions. On the first occasion, the bhikkhu participates in the collective decision by his presence and silence — or explicitly by giving his assent. On the second occasion, he publicly criticizes a decision in which he himself had taken part. This second action is regarded as a form of undermining the unity and harmony of the Saṅgha (Saṅghasamaggī), which is a fundamental value in the Vinaya.
This rule does not penalize the one who distributed the robes, nor does it penalize the act of appointing an officer to carry out Saṅgha transactions. It penalizes inconsistency in one's position and conduct. This is a means of protecting collective decisions from being eroded by individual opinions expressed after the fact.
Practical Significance
The Dubbala Sutta teaches us a profound lesson concerning the authenticity of commitment and consistency of mind.
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