Bu Ss 1010. Causing a schism in the Sangha
Pāli / Sanskrit:Saṅghabheda
A monk who tries to cause a schism in the Order is to be suspended. The origin story to this rule gives an account of how Devadatta, the Buddha’s notorious cousin, tried to cause a schism in the Order.
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Commentary on the Saṅghabheda Rule (Bu Ss 10)
Establishing the Prohibition Against Causing a Schism in the Sangha
Background
The Vinaya records one of the most sorrowful events in the history of the early Sangha: the schism instigated by Devadatta, the Buddha's cousin. Although Devadatta was a monk within the Sangha, his desire for fame and gain, his jealousy toward the Buddha, and his personal ambitions led him to carry out the most destructive of acts: attempting to divide the Sangha into opposing factions.
Devadatta's efforts were not merely an isolated breach of discipline; they constituted a violation of the integrity and harmony of the entire Sangha—the indispensable spiritual foundation for the propagation of the Dharma. Therefore, the Buddha and the most senior monks were firmly resolved to establish a strict rule in order to protect this unity.
Main Content
The Saṅghabheda rule (Causing a Schism in the Sangha) stipulates that any monk who deliberately endeavors to divide the Sangha, splitting its members into opposing factions, is subject to the penalty of Saṅghādisesa. This is one of the most severe penalties in the Vinaya Piṭaka, applying to acts of inciting internal division, criticizing the Dharma and the Buddha, or propagating separate doctrines with the aim of drawing others along a divergent path.
The rule prohibits not only direct acts of division, but also more subtle efforts such as criticizing collective decisions, praising divisive views, or establishing separate institutional structures. Its purpose is to safeguard Saṅgha Ekaggatā—the unity of the Sangha—regarded as an essential factor for effective teaching and practice.
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