BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

The Animal Chapter Chapter 8.7basic principles of the Vinaya, in which a mere act of mind is never sufficient for anoffense. It would seem better to argue from the Vibhaṅga and say that this factor isfulfilled if one comes to this decision when another bhikkhu is available and soomits to tell him.The Commentary says that if one abandons one's responsibility but then laterchanges one's mind and tells another bhikkhu, one has committed the offense allthe same.It also says that if one tells Bhikkhu X, asking him to help hide Bhikkhu Y's offense,this also fulfills the factor of effort here. If X then abandons his responsibility to tell,he too commits the offense under this rule.Non-offenses. There is no offense in not telling another bhikkhu —if one thinks that telling will lead to strife or a split in the Community;if, seeing that the bhikkhu who has committed the offense is violent bynature, one feels that he might create "dangers to life" or "dangers to thecelibate life";if there is no suitable bhikkhu to tell;if one is not motivated by a desire to hide the offense; orif one feels that the wrong-doer's own behavior will betray him and thusthere is no need to tell.Summary: Not informing another bhikkhu of a serious offense that one knows a thirdbhikkhu has committed — out of a desire to protect the third bhikkhu either fromhaving to undergo the penalty or from the jeering remarks of other bhikkhus — is apācittiya offense.65. Should any bhikkhu knowingly give full Acceptance (ordination)to an individual less than twenty years old, the individual is notaccepted and the bhikkhus are blameworthy; and as for him (thepreceptor), it is to be confessed.The origin story here tells how the group of seventeen came to be ordained."Now at that time in Rājagaha, a group of seventeen boys were friends, with the boyUpāli as their leader. Then the thought occurred to Upāli's parents, 'By what meanscould Upāli, after our death, live pleasantly and not suffer?... If he studies writing,his fingers will hurt... If he studies calculation, his breast will hurt... If he studiesmoney changing, his eyes will hurt. Now, these Sakyan-son monks are of pleasantvirtue and conduct. Having eaten good meals, they lie down in beds sheltered fromthe wind. If Upāli went forth among the Sakyan-son monks, he would live pleasantlyafter our death and not suffer.'379