Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Making a groundless accusation out of anger, using a pretext

1Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the monks Mettiya and Bhūmajaka were descending from the Vulture Peak when they saw two goats copulating. They said to each other, “Let’s give the he-goat the name Dabba the Mallian and the she-goat the name Mettiyā the nun. We can then say, ‘Previously we spoke of what we had heard, but now we’ve seen Dabba copulating with the nun Mettiyā.’” They then gave them those names and told the monks, “Previously we spoke of what we had heard, but now we’ve seen Dabba copulating with the nun Mettiyā.”

2The monks replied, “Don’t say such things. Venerable Dabba wouldn’t do that.”

3The monks told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and questioned Dabba: “Dabba, do you remember doing as these monks say?”

4“Sir, you know what I’m like.”

5A second and a third time the Buddha asked the same question and got the same response. He then said, “Dabba, the Dabbas don’t give such evasive answers. If it was done by you, say so; if it wasn’t, then say that.”

6“Since I was born, sir, I don’t recall having sexual intercourse even in a dream, let alone when awake.”

7“Well then, monks, call those monks to account.” And the Buddha got up from his seat and entered his dwelling.

8The monks then questioned Mettiya and Bhūmajaka, who told them what had happened. The monks said, “So did you charge Venerable Dabba with an offense entailing expulsion, using an unrelated legal issue as a pretext?”

9“Yes.”

10The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, “How could Mettiya and Bhūmajaka charge Venerable Dabba with an offense entailing expulsion, using an unrelated legal issue as a pretext?”

11They rebuked those monks in many ways and then told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned those monks: “Is it true, monks, that you did this?”

12“It’s true, sir.”

13The Buddha rebuked them … “Foolish men, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

14Final ruling
‘If a monk who is angry and displeased, uses an unrelated legal issue as a pretext to charge a monk with an offense entailing expulsion, aiming to make him leave the monastic life, and then after some time, whether he is questioned or not, it is clear that the legal issue is unrelated and was used as a pretext, and he admits to his ill will, he commits an offense entailing suspension.’”

15Definitions
A:

16whoever …

17Monk:

18… 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.

19A monk:

20another monk.

21Angry:

22upset, dissatisfied, discontent, having hatred, hostile.

23Displeased:

24because of that upset, that ill will, that dissatisfaction, and that discontent, he is displeased.

25An unrelated legal issue:

26it is either unrelated in regard to offenses or unrelated in regard to legal issues.

27How is a legal issue unrelated to a legal issue? A legal issue arising from a dispute is unrelated to a legal issue arising from an accusation, a legal issue arising from an offense, and a legal issue arising from business. A legal issue arising from an accusation is unrelated to a legal issue arising from an offense, a legal issue arising from business, and a legal issue arising from a dispute. A legal issue arising from an offense is unrelated to a legal issue arising from business, a legal issue arising from a dispute, and a legal issue arising from an accusation. A legal issue arising from business is unrelated to a legal issue arising from a dispute, a legal issue arising from an accusation, and a legal issue arising from an offense. It is in this way that a legal issue is unrelated to a legal issue.

28How is a legal issue related to a legal issue? A legal issue arising from a dispute is related to a legal issue arising from a dispute. A legal issue arising from an accusation is related to a legal issue arising from an accusation. A legal issue arising from an offense may be either related or unrelated to a legal issue arising from an offense.

29How is a legal issue arising from an offense unrelated to a legal issue arising from an offense? An offense entailing expulsion in regard to sexual intercourse is unrelated to an offense entailing expulsion in regard to stealing, an offense entailing expulsion in regard to a human being, and an offense entailing expulsion in regard to a superhuman quality. An offense entailing expulsion in regard to stealing is unrelated to an offense entailing expulsion in regard to a human being, an offense entailing expulsion in regard to a superhuman quality, and an offense entailing expulsion in regard to sexual intercourse. An offense entailing expulsion in regard to a human being is unrelated to an offense entailing expulsion in regard to a superhuman quality, an offense entailing expulsion in regard to sexual intercourse, and an offense entailing expulsion in regard to stealing. An offense entailing expulsion in regard to a superhuman quality is unrelated to an offense entailing expulsion in regard to sexual intercourse, an offense entailing expulsion in regard to stealing, and an offense entailing expulsion in regard to a human being. It is in this way that a legal issue arising from an offense is unrelated to a legal issue arising from an offense.

30How is a legal issue arising from an offense related to a legal issue arising from an offense? An offense entailing expulsion in regard to sexual intercourse is related to an offense entailing expulsion in regard to sexual intercourse. An offense entailing expulsion in regard to stealing is related to an offense entailing expulsion in regard to stealing. An offense entailing expulsion in regard to a human being is related to an offense entailing expulsion in regard to a human being. An offense entailing expulsion in regard to a superhuman quality is related to an offense entailing expulsion in regard to a superhuman quality. It is in this way that a legal issue arising from an offense is related to a legal issue arising from an offense.

31A legal issue arising from business is related to a legal issue arising from business. It is in this way that a legal issue is related to a legal issue.

32Uses as a pretext:

33A pretext: there are ten kinds of pretext—the pretext of caste, the pretext of name, the pretext of family, the pretext of characteristic, the pretext of offense, the pretext of almsbowl, the pretext of robe, the pretext of preceptor, the pretext of teacher, the pretext of dwelling.

34The pretext of caste: a monk sees an aristocrat committing an offense entailing expulsion. If he then accuses another aristocrat, saying, “I’ve seen an aristocrat. You’ve committed an offense entailing expulsion. You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. You’re excluded from the observance-day ceremony, from the invitation ceremony, and from the legal procedures of the Sangha,” he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement. A monk sees a brahmin … A monk sees a merchant … A monk sees a worker committing an offense entailing expulsion. If he then accuses another worker, saying, “I’ve seen a worker. You’ve committed an offense entailing expulsion. You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. …” he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

35The pretext of name: a monk sees someone whose name is Buddharakkhita … Dhammarakkhita … Saṅgharakkhita committing an offense entailing expulsion. If he then accuses another person called Saṅgharakkhita, saying, “I’ve seen Saṅgharakkhita. You’ve committed an offense entailing expulsion. You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. …” he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

36The pretext of family: a monk sees someone whose family name is Gotama … Moggallāna … Kaccāyana … Vāsiṭṭha committing an offense entailing expulsion. If he then accuses another person called Vāsiṭṭha, saying, “I’ve seen Vāsiṭṭha. You’ve committed an offense entailing expulsion. You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. …” he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

37The pretext of characteristic: a monk sees someone tall … short … dark-skinned … fair-skinned committing an offense entailing expulsion. If he then accuses another fair-skinned person, saying, “I’ve seen a fair-skinned person. You’ve committed an offense entailing expulsion. You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. …” he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

38The pretext of offense: a monk sees someone committing a light offense. If he then accuses him of an offense entailing expulsion, saying, “You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. …” he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

39The pretext of almsbowl: a monk sees someone carrying an iron bowl … a black ceramic bowl … an ordinary ceramic bowl committing an offense entailing expulsion. If he then accuses another person carrying an ordinary ceramic bowl, saying, “I’ve seen someone carrying an ordinary ceramic bowl. You’ve committed an offense entailing expulsion. You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. …” he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

40The pretext of robe: a monk sees someone wearing rag robes … wearing robes given by householders committing an offense entailing expulsion. If he then accuses another person wearing robes given by householders, saying, “I’ve seen someone wearing robes given by householders. You’ve committed an offense entailing expulsion. You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. …” he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

41The pretext of preceptor: a monk sees a student of so-and-so committing an offense entailing expulsion. If he then accuses another student of that person, saying, “I’ve seen the student of so-and-so. You’ve committed an offense entailing expulsion. You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. …” he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

42The pretext of teacher: a monk sees a pupil of so-and-so committing an offense entailing expulsion. If he then accuses another pupil of that person, saying, “I’ve seen the pupil of so-and-so. You’ve committed an offense entailing expulsion. You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. …” he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

43The pretext of dwelling: a monk sees one who dwells in such-and-such a dwelling committing an offense entailing expulsion. If he then accuses someone else who dwells in that dwelling, saying, “I’ve seen one who dwells in such-and-such a dwelling. You’ve committed an offense entailing expulsion. You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. You’re excluded from the observance-day ceremony, from the invitation ceremony, and from the legal procedures of the Sangha,” he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

44With an offense entailing expulsion:

45with one of the four.

46To charge:

47accuses him or has him accused.

48To make him leave the monastic life:

49to make him leave the monkhood, leave the state of a monastic, leave his morality, leave the virtue of monasticism.

50And then after some time:

51the moment, the instant, the second after he has laid the charge.

52He is questioned:

53he is questioned about the grounds of his charge.

54Not:

55he is not spoken to by anyone.

56The legal issue:

57there are four kinds of legal issues: legal issues arising from disputes, legal issues arising from accusations, legal issues arising from offenses, legal issues arising from business.

58Was used as a pretext:

59he has used a certain pretext among those listed above.

60And he admits to his ill will:

61“What I said was empty,” “What I said was false,” “What I said was unreal,” “I said it without knowing.”

62He commits an offense entailing suspension:

63… Therefore, too, it is called an offense entailing suspension.

64Doing the accusing oneself
A monk sees another monk committing an offense entailing suspension, and the first monk regards it as an offense entailing suspension. If he then accuses him of an offense entailing expulsion, saying, “You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. You’re excluded from the observance-day ceremony, from the invitation ceremony, and from the legal procedures of the Sangha,” thus using an unrelated offense as a pretext, he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

65A monk sees another monk committing an offense entailing suspension, but the first monk regards it as a serious offense … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing confession … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing acknowledgment … but the first monk regards it as an offense of wrong conduct … but the first monk regards it as an offense of wrong speech. If he then accuses him of an offense entailing expulsion, saying, “You’re not an ascetic …” thus using an unrelated offense as a pretext, he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

66A monk sees another monk committing a serious offense, and the first monk regards it as a serious offense … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing confession … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing acknowledgment … but the first monk regards it as an offense of wrong conduct … but the first monk regards it as an offense of wrong speech … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing suspension. If he then accuses him of an offense entailing expulsion, saying, “You’re not an ascetic …” thus using an unrelated offense as a pretext, he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

67A monk sees another monk committing an offense entailing confession … an offense entailing acknowledgment … an offense of wrong conduct … an offense of wrong speech, and the first monk regards it as an offense of wrong speech … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing suspension … but the first monk regards it as a serious offense … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing confession … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing acknowledgment … but the first monk regards it as an offense of wrong conduct. If he then accuses him of an offense entailing expulsion, saying, “You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. You’re excluded from the observance-day ceremony, from the invitation ceremony, and from the legal procedures of the Sangha,” thus using an unrelated offense as a pretext, he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

68The permutation series is to be linked by doing the items one by one.

69Getting someone else to do the accusing
A monk sees another monk committing an offense entailing suspension, and the first monk regards it as an offense entailing suspension. If he then has him accused of an offense entailing expulsion, saying, “You’re not an ascetic …” thus using an unrelated offense as a pretext, he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

70A monk sees another monk committing an offense entailing suspension, but the first monk regards it as a serious offense … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing confession … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing acknowledgment … but the first monk regards it as an offense of wrong conduct … but the first monk regards it as an offense of wrong speech. If he then has him accused of an offense entailing expulsion, saying, “You’re not an ascetic …” thus using an unrelated offense as a pretext, he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

71A monk sees another monk committing a serious offense, and the first monk regards it as a serious offense … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing confession … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing acknowledgment … but the first monk regards it as an offense of wrong conduct … but the first monk regards it as an offense of wrong speech … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing suspension. If he then has him accused of an offense entailing expulsion, saying, “You’re not an ascetic …” thus using an unrelated offense as a pretext, he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

72A monk sees another monk committing an offense entailing confession … an offense entailing acknowledgment … an offense of wrong conduct … an offense of wrong speech, and the first monk regards it as an offense of wrong speech … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing suspension … but the first monk regards it as a serious offense … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing confession … but the first monk regards it as an offense entailing acknowledgment … but the first monk regards it as an offense of wrong conduct. If he then has him accused of an offense entailing expulsion, saying, “You’re not an ascetic, not a Sakyan monastic. You’re excluded from the observance-day ceremony, from the invitation ceremony, and from the legal procedures of the Sangha,” thus using an unrelated offense as a pretext, he commits an offense entailing suspension for each statement.

73Non-offenses
There is no offense: if he accuses or has someone accused in accordance with his own perception; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

74The training rule on making a groundless accusation out of anger, using a pretext, the ninth, is finished.