BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code 1Perception as to whether the person one is trying to frighten is ordained is irrelevantto the offense (see Pc 42)."Result" is not a factor here. If the three factors are fulfilled, one commits theoffense regardless of whether the other person is actually frightened.Non-offenses. To inform another person of dangers from ghosts, robbers, etc.,without intending to frighten him/her constitutes no offense. The same exemptionholds for arranging a sight, sound, smell, taste, or tactile sensation without theintention of causing fright.Summary: Attempting to frighten another bhikkhu is a pācittiya offense.56. Should any bhikkhu who is not ill, seeking to warm himself,kindle a fire or have one kindled — unless there is a suitable reason— it is to be confessed."Now at that time, in the winter months, bhikkhus warmed themselves, havingkindled a fire by a large hollow log. And in that hollow a cobra was scorched by thefire. Coming out, it sprang at the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus ran off every which way."Here again the factors for the full offense are three.1) Object: One is not ill.2) Effort: One lights a fire or gets someone else to light one.3) Intention: for the purpose of warming oneself.Object. Not ill, in the context of this rule, means that one can fare comfortablywithout warming oneself. The Vibhaṅga makes the point that perception as towhether one is actually ill is not a mitigating factor here (see Pc 4). What this meansis that when it is chilly outside, one should be very sure that extra warmth isnecessary for one's health before lighting a fire to warm oneself.Effort. Lighting a fire at present would include turning on the flame in a heatingsystem in one's dwelling for the sake of the warmth. Solar or electric heatingsystems, which do not use flames, would not be included here.Getting a fire lit, according to the Vibhaṅga, means ordering another person to lighta fire. Thus there is apparently room for kappiya-vohāra under this rule, as long asone's suggestion for lighting a fire not be an express command.If, when not ill, one orders someone else to light a fire (or fires) for the purpose ofwarming oneself, there is a pācittiya in making the order, and another pācittiyawhen the other person lights the fire(s), regardless of how many fires are lit as aresult of the one order. To return a burning piece of fuel to a fire is grounds for a364