Bu Pc 78

78. Upassutisikkhāpada

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū pesalehi bhikkhūhi saddhiṁ bhaṇḍanti. Pesalā bhikkhū evaṁ vadanti— “alajjino ime, āvuso, chabbaggiyā bhikkhū. Na sakkā imehi saha bhaṇḍitun”ti. Chabbaggiyā bhikkhū evaṁ vadanti— “kissa tumhe, āvuso, amhe alajjivādena pāpethā”ti? “Kahaṁ pana tumhe, āvuso, assutthā”ti? “Mayaṁ āyasmantānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭhamhā”ti. Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhūnaṁ bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭhissantī”ti …pe… “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhūnaṁ bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭhathā”ti? “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti. Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhūnaṁ bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭhissatha. Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Eavesdropping Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the monks from the group of six were arguing with the good monks. The good monks said, “These monks from the group of six are shameless; it’s not possible to argue with them.” And the monks from the group of six said, “Why are you slandering us by calling us shameless?” “How did you know?” “We were eavesdropping on you.” The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, “How could the monks from the group of six eavesdrop on monks they are arguing and disputing with?” … “Is it true, monks, that you did this?” “It’s true, sir.” The 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:

“Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhūnaṁ bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānaṁ upassutiṁ tiṭṭheyya—‘yaṁ ime bhaṇissanti taṁ sossāmī’ti etadeva paccayaṁ karitvā anaññaṁ, pācittiyan”ti.

Final ruling

‘If a monk eavesdrops on monks who are arguing and disputing, thinking, “I’ll hear what they say,” and he does so only for this reason and no other, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Yo panāti yo yādiso …pe… bhikkhūti …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti. Bhikkhūnanti aññesaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ. Bhaṇḍanajātānaṁ kalahajātānaṁ vivādāpannānanti adhikaraṇajātānaṁ. Upassutiṁ tiṭṭheyyāti “imesaṁ sutvā codessāmi sāressāmi paṭicodessāmi paṭisāressāmi maṅkū karissāmī”ti gacchati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Yattha ṭhito suṇāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. Pacchato gacchanto turito gacchati sossāmīti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Yattha ṭhito suṇāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. Purato gacchanto ohiyyati sossāmīti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Yattha ṭhito suṇāti, āpatti pācittiyassa. Bhikkhussa ṭhitokāsaṁ vā nisinnokāsaṁ vā nipannokāsaṁ vā āgantvā mantentaṁ ukkāsitabbaṁ, vijānāpetabbaṁ, no ce ukkāseyya vā vijānāpeyya vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. Etadeva paccayaṁ karitvā anaññanti na añño koci paccayo hoti upassutiṁ tiṭṭhituṁ.

Definitions

A: whoever … Monk: … 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. On monks: on other monks. Who are arguing and disputing: who are engaged in a legal issue. Eavesdrops: if he is on his way to eavesdrop, thinking, “After hearing what they say, I’ll accuse them,” “… I’ll remind them,” “… I’ll counter accuse them,” “… I’ll counter remind them,” “… I’ll humiliate them,” he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Wherever he stands to listen, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is walking behind someone, and he speeds up with the intention to eavesdrop, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Wherever he stands to listen, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he is walking in front of someone, and he slows down with the intention to eavesdrop, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Wherever he stands to listen, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he goes to where a monk who is speaking privately is standing, sitting, or lying down, he should clear his throat or make his presence known. If he does not clear his throat or make his presence known, he commits an offense entailing confession. He does so only for this reason and no other: there is no other reason for eavesdropping.

Upasampanne upasampannasaññī upassutiṁ tiṭṭhati, āpatti pācittiyassa. Upasampanne vematiko upassutiṁ tiṭṭhati, āpatti pācittiyassa. Upasampanne anupasampannasaññī upassutiṁ tiṭṭhati, āpatti pācittiyassa. Anupasampannassa upassutiṁ tiṭṭhati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Anupasampanne upasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Anupasampanne vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Anupasampanne anupasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Permutations

If it is one who is fully ordained, and he perceives him as such, and he eavesdrops on him, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is one who is fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, and he eavesdrops on him, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is one who is fully ordained, but he does not perceive him as such, and he eavesdrops on him, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he eavesdrops on one who is not fully ordained, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is one who is not fully ordained, but he perceives them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is one who is not fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is one who is not fully ordained, and he does not perceive them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Anāpatti— “imesaṁ sutvā oramissāmi viramissāmi vūpasamissāmi attānaṁ parimocessāmī”ti gacchati, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if he goes, thinking, “After hearing what they say, I’ll hold back,” “… I’ll abstain,” “… I’ll resolve it,” “… I’ll free myself;” if he is insane; if he is the first offender.