Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Intentionally killing a living being

1Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time Venerable Udāyī was skilled in archery. And because he disliked crows, he shot them. He cut off their heads and then set them out in a row impaled on stakes. The monks asked him, “Who killed these crows?”

2“I did. I don’t like crows.”

3The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, “How can Venerable Udāyī intentionally kill living beings?” … “Is it true, Udāyī, that you do this?”

4“It’s true, sir.”

5The Buddha rebuked him … “Foolish man, how can you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

6Final ruling
‘If a monk intentionally kills a living being, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

7Definitions
A:

8whoever …

9Monk:

10… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.

11Intentionally:

12knowing, perceiving, having intended, having decided, he transgresses.

13A living being:

14an animal is what is meant.

15Kills:

16if he cuts off and makes an end of the life faculty, if he destroys its continuity, he commits an offense entailing confession.

17Permutations
If it is a living being, and he perceives it as such, and he kills it, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is a living being, but he is unsure of it, and he kills it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is a living being, but he does not perceive it as such, and he kills it, there is no offense.

18If it is not a living being, but he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not a living being, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not a living being, and he does not perceive it as such, there is no offense.

19Non-offenses
There is no offense: if it is unintentional; if he is not mindful; if he does not know; if he is not aiming at death; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

20The training rule on intentionally killing a living being, the first, is finished.