Offences

Contents

Āpatti-paṭidesanā (Confession of Offences)

Six reasons for āpatti

(1) Lack of shame; (2) ignorance of the rule; (3) in doubt but goes ahead; (4) thinks he ought when he ought not; (5) thinks he ought not when he ought; (6) acts without thinking (i.e. absent-mindedly).

Four conditions for exemption from āpatti

A bhikkhu who is (1) insane, (2) delirious, (3) suffering intense pain, or (4) the original perpetrator.

The kinds of āpatti

(a) Those that cannot be remedied (pārājika).

(b) Those that can be remedied:

Heavy offences (saṅghādisesa), confessed to a Sangha.

Light offences, confessed to another bhikkhu: thullaccaya (grave offences), pācittiya (offences of expiation), pāṭidesanīya (offences to be confessed), dukkaṭa (offences of wrongdoing), and dubbhāsita (offences of wrong speech).

Method of confessing light offences

(Thai Formula)

Before the general confession any known offences should be specified. Two bhikkhus with the same offence should not confess that offence together. To do so is a dukkaṭa offence.

Vin.IV.122

SB: Senior Bhikkhu
JB: Junior Bhikkhu

Junior bhikkhu is confessing:

JB: Ahaṁ bhante sambahulā nānā-vatthukāyo thullaccayāyo āpattiyo āpanno tā paṭidesemi.

I, ven. sir, having many times fallen into grave offences with different bases, these I confess.

SB: Passasi āvuso.

Do you see, friend?

JB: Āma bhante passāmi.

Yes, ven. sir, I see.

SB: Āyatiṁ āvuso saṁvareyyāsi.

In future, friend, you should be restrained.

JB: Sādhu suṭṭhu bhante saṁvarissāmi. (×3)

It is well indeed, ven. sir. I shall be restrained.

SB: Ahaṁ āvuso sambahulā nānā-vatthukāyo thullaccayāyo āpattiyo āpanno tā paṭidesemi.

I, friend, having many times fallen into grave offences with different bases, these I confess.

JB: Passatha bhante.

Do you see, ven. sir?

SB: Āma āvuso passāmi.

Yes, friend, I see.

JB: Āyatiṁ bhante saṁvareyyātha.

In future, ven. sir, you should be restrained.

SB: Sādhu suṭṭhu āvuso saṁvarissāmi. (×3)

It is well indeed, friend. I shall be restrained.

This formula is repeated replacing ‘thullaccayāyo’ with, in turn, ‘pācittiyāyo’, ‘dukkaṭāyo’, ‘dubbhāsitāyo’.

With ‘dubbhāsitāyo’ omit ‘nānā-vatthukāyo’.

When confessing two offences of the same class:
‘sambahulā’ (many) → ‘dve’ (twice)

When confessing a single offence:

‘Sambahulā nānā-vatthukāyo thullaccayāyo āpattiyo āpanno tā paṭidesemi.’
→ ‘Ekaṁ thullaccayaṁ āpattiṁ āpanno taṁ paṭidesemi.’

Replace, as appropriate, ‘thullaccayaṁ’ with ‘pācittiyaṁ’, ‘dukkaṭaṁ’, ‘dubbhāsitaṁ’.

Nissaggiya Pācittiya

When confessing a nissaggiya pācittiya (‘expiation with forfeiture’) offence, substitute ‘nissaggiyāyo pācittiyāyo’ for ‘thullaccayāyo’, or ‘nissaggiyaṁ pācittiyaṁ’ for ‘thullaccayaṁ’ in the formula at Light Offences above.

However, before confessing, the article in question must be forfeited to another bhikkhu or to a Sangha.

Vin.III.196f

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 1 (‘extra robe’)

On the eleventh dawn of keeping one ‘extra robe’, within forearm’s length, forfeiting to a more senior bhikkhu:

‘Idaṁ me bhante cīvaraṁ dasāhātikkantaṁ nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

‘This extra robe, ven. sir, which has passed beyond the ten day (limit), is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

More than one robe, within forearm’s length:

‘Imāni me bhante cīvarāni dasāhātikkantāni nissaggiyāni. Imānāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

If forfeiting to a Sangha: ‘āyasamato’ → ‘saṅghassa’

If forfeiting to a group of bhikkhus:
‘āyasamato’ → ‘āysamantānaṁ’

If senior bhikkhu: ‘bhante’ → ‘āvuso’

If beyond forearm’s length:

‘idaṁ’ (this) → ‘etaṁ’ (that)
‘imāhaṁ’ → ‘etāhaṁ’
‘imāni’ (these) → ‘etāni’ (those)
‘imānāhaṁ’ → ‘etānāhaṁ’

Returning the robe

‘Imaṁ cīvaraṁ āyasmato dammi.’
‘I give this robe to you.’ Vin.III.197

For returning more than one robe:
‘imaṁ’ → ‘imāni’ ; ‘cīvaraṁ’ → ‘cīvarāni’

This formula for returning the article(s) also applies in NP. 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 below.

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 2 (‘separated from’)

‘Idaṁ me bhante cīvaraṁ ratti-vippavutthaṁ aññatra bhikkhu-sammatiyā nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

‘This robe, ven. sir, which has stayed separate (from me) for a night without the consent of the bhikkhus, is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

Vin.III.199-200

If multiple robes:
‘cīvaraṁ’ → ‘dvicīvaraṁ’/‘ticīvaraṁ’ (two-/three-robes)

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 3 (‘over-kept cloth’)

‘Idaṁ me bhante akāla-cīvaraṁ māsātikkantaṁ nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

’This, ven. sir, ‘out of season’ robe, which has passed beyond the month (limit), is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

Vin.III.205

For more than one piece of cloth:

‘Imāni me bhante akāla-cīvarāni māsātikkantāni nissaggiyāni. Imānāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 6 (‘asked for’)

‘Idaṁ me bhante cīvaraṁ aññātakaṁ gahapatikaṁ aññatra samayā viññāpitaṁ nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

‘This robe, ven. sir, which has been asked from an unrelated householder at other than the proper occasion, is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

Vin.III.213

For more than one piece of cloth:

‘Imāni me bhante cīvarāni aññātakaṁ gahapatikaṁ aññatra samayā viññāpitāni nissaggiyāni. Imānāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 7 (‘beyond limit’)

‘Idaṁ me bhante cīvaraṁ aññātakaṁ gahapatikaṁ upasaṁkamitvā tat’uttariṁ viññāpitaṁ nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

‘This robe, ven. sir, which has been asked for beyond the limitation from an unrelated householder, is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

Vin.III.214-215

For more than one piece of cloth:

‘Imāni me bhante cīvarāni aññātakaṁ gahapatikaṁ tat’uttariṁ viññāpitāni nissaggiyāni. Imānāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 8 (‘instructing’)

‘Idaṁ me bhante cīvaraṁ pubbe appavārito aññātakaṁ gahapatikaṁ upasaṅkamitvā cīvare vikappaṁ āpannaṁ nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

‘This robe, ven. sir, which has been instructed about after having approached an unrelated householder without prior invitation is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

Vin.III.217

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 9 (‘instructing’)

For a robe (robe-cloth) received after making instructions to two or more householders. Use formula of NP 8 above but change:

‘aññātakaṁ gahapatikaṁ’ → ‘aññātake gahapatike’

For returning the robe(s) see NP 1 above.

Vin.III.219

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 10 (‘reminding’)

‘Idaṁ me bhante cīvaraṁ atireka-tikkhattuṁ codanāya atireka-chakkhattuṁ ṭhānena abhinipphāditaṁ nissaggiyaṁ, imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

‘This robe, ven. sir, which has been obtained by inciting more than three times, by standing more than six times, is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

Vin.III.223

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 18 (‘gold and silver’)

‘Ahaṁ bhante rūpiyaṁ paṭiggahesiṁ, idaṁ me nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ saṅghassa nissajjāmi.’

‘Ven. sirs, I have accepted money. This is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to the Saṅgha.’

To be forfeited to the Sangha only.

Vin.III.238

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 19 (‘monetary exchange’)

‘Ahaṁ bhante nānappakārakaṁ rūpiyasaṁvohāraṁ samāpajjiṁ, idaṁ me nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ saṅghassa nissajjāmi.’

‘Ven. sirs, I have engaged in various kinds of trafficking with money. This (money) is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to the Saṅgha.’

To be forfeited to the Sangha only.

Vin.III.240

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 20 (‘buying and selling’)

‘Ahaṁ bhante nānappakārakaṁ kayavikkayaṁ samāpajjiṁ, idaṁ me nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

‘Ven. sir, I have engaged in various kinds of buying and selling. This (gain) of mine is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

Vin.III.242

If forfeiting to a Sangha: ‘āyasmato’ → ‘saṅghassa’

If forfeiting to a group of bhikkhus:
‘āyasmato’ → ‘āyasmantānaṁ’

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 21 (‘extra bowl’)

‘Ayaṁ me bhante patto dasāhātikkanto nissaggiyo. Imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

‘This bowl, ven. sir, which has passed beyond the ten-day (limit), is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

For returning the bowl:

‘Imaṁ pattaṁ āyasmato dammi.’
‘I give this bowl to you.’

Vin.III.243-244

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 22 (‘new bowl’)

‘Ayaṁ me bhante patto ūnapañca-bandhanena pattena cetāpito nissaggiyo. Imāhaṁ saṅghassa nissajjāmi.’

‘This bowl, ven. sirs, which has been exchanged for a bowl that has less than five mends, is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to the Sangha.’

To be forfeited to the Sangha only.

Vin.III.246

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 23 (‘kept tonics’)

‘Idaṁ me bhante bhesajjaṁ sattāhātikkantaṁ nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

‘This tonic, ven. sir, which has passed beyond the seven-day (limit), is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

Tonics can be returned, but not for consumption:

‘Imaṁ bhesajjaṁ āyasmato dammi.’
‘I give this tonic to you.’

Vin.III.251

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 25 (‘snatched back’)

‘Idaṁ me bhante cīvaraṁ bhikkhussa sāmaṁ datvā acchinnaṁ nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

‘This robe, ven. sir, which has been snatched back after having given it myself to a bhikkhu, is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

Vin.III.255

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 28 (‘urgent’)

‘Idaṁ me bhante acceka-cīvaraṁ cīvara-kālasamayaṁ atikkāmitaṁ nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

‘This robe-offered-in-urgency, ven. sir, has passed beyond the robe-season, is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

Vin.III.262

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 29 (‘wilderness abode’)

‘Idaṁ me bhante cīvaraṁ atireka-chā-rattaṁ vippavutthaṁ aññatra bhikkhu-sammatiyā nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

‘This robe, ven. sir, which has stayed separate (from me) for a night without the consent of the bhikkhus, is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

Vin.III.264

Nissaggiya Pācittiya 30 (‘diverted gain’)

‘Idaṁ me bhante jānaṁ saṅghikaṁ lābhaṁ pariṇataṁ attano pariṇāmitaṁ nissaggiyaṁ. Imāhaṁ āyasmato nissajjāmi.’

‘This gain belonging to the Saṅgha, ven. sir, which has been (already) diverted (to someone), (and) which has been knowingly diverted to myself (instead), is to be forfeited by me: I forfeit it to you.’

To return the article: ‘Imaṁ āyasmato dammi.’

Vin.III.266

Saṅghādisesa

(i) A bhikkhu who has committed saṅghādisesa must first inform one or more bhikkhus, and then inform a Sangha of at least four bhikkhus of his fault(s) and ask to observe mānatta (penance). When the Sangha has given mānatta to that bhikkhu, he recites the formula undertaking mānatta and then practises the appropriate duties for six days and nights. When the bhikkhu has completed practising mānatta, he requests rehabilitation (abbhāna) in the presence of a Sangha of at least twenty bhikkhus.

(ii) A bhikkhu who has committed saṅghādisesa and deliberately concealed it must first live in parivāsa (probation) for the number of days that the offence was concealed. When the bhikkhu has completed his time living in parivāsa, he requests mānatta and then follows the procedure outlined in (i) above.