THE PLACE OF NON-OFFENDERS: A STUDY BASED ON PARAJIKA APATTI

Abstract

The Parajikadhamma, or sins involving expulsion from the Samaṇa-ship, are the most heinous offences depicted in the Vinaya. These offences have not only been placed out at the top of the list of 227 Vinaya rules recommended for the bhikkhus, but also at the top of the list of 311 Vinaya rules of the bhikkhunis. These offences are known as parajika-s (lit. “Defeats”), “that which involve expulsion.” There are four in number, i.e., fornication, theft, depriving a human being of life, and, falsely laying claim to the possession of Arahant-ship or any of the other supernatural gifts. This research is mainly focused on the first of the four parajika apatti-s of the bhikkhu-s depicted in the Parajikapaḷi of the Vinaya-piṭaka. The research is on 6 individuals engaged in different conditions at different stages, who have not committed offences. They are not called parajiko, i.e. they do not involve expulsion. They are: if one is ignorant, if one has not agreed, if one is mad, if one is unhinged, if one is afflicted with pain, and if one is a beginner. This substitute imposed by the Buddha is explained in the Vinayaṭṭhakatha (Samantapasadika) in detail. The methodology of the research follows a qualitative approach, and it primarily depends on the Vinaya-piṭaka and its commentarial descriptions. The results of the research show the Buddha’s enlightened vision on the offence (apatti in Pali) and justice, and also his noble quest towards the “defendant”- the person or entity that is being sued, and “plaintiff”- the person or entity filing the lawsuit. It is recorded in the VIN. I: 36-37 that Venerable Sudinna who held no offence as the first-doer (adikatta pubbaṅgamo) of many wrong things was rebuked by the Buddha via seven advises, i.e., you will enter upon what is not verily dhamma, upon village dhamma, upon low dhamma, upon wickedness, upon final ablution, upon secrecy, and upon having obtained in couples. On account of this, for the first time, the Buddha set forth the rules on Parajika apatti for monks based on ten reasons. The commentarial definition on non-offenders related to Parajika apatti elaborates the utmost words of the Buddha on legitimacy.