The Bhikkhus Rules
A Guide for Laypeople
by Bhikkhu Ariyesako | 1998 | 50,970 words
The Theravadin Buddhist Monk's Rules compiled and explained by: Bhikkhu Ariyesako Discipline is for the sake of restraint, restraint for the sake of freedom from remorse, freedom from remorse for the sake of joy, joy for the sake of rapture, rapture for the sake of tranquillity, tranquillity for the sake of pleasure, pleasure for the sake of conce...
Murder
The third Defeater (Paaraajika) Offence deals with murder. The original story describes how some bhikkhus wrongly grasped the Buddhas meditation teaching on the loathsome aspects of the body[1] and, falling into wrong view, committed suicide or asked someone to end their lives for them. The rule can be summarized like this:
"Intentionally bringing about the untimely death of a human being, even if it is still a foetus, is [an offence of Defeat.]"
(Summary Paar. 3; BMC p.78)
A bhikkhu must not recommend killing, suicide or help arrange a murder.[2] Also, because in this rule a human being is defined as beginning with the human foetus, counting "from the time consciousness first arises in the womb," he must not advise or arrange an abortion.
There is no offence if death is caused accidentally or without intention.[3]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
asubha kamma.t.thaana, see the Foundations of Mindfulness Sutta, (M,10)
[2]:
"It is noteworthy that even praising death or assisting death out of compassion, that is, euthanasia, is still considered a Defeat for a bhikkhu (Vin.III,79;86)." (HS ch.15)
[3]:
For a discussion of the issues involved in caring for the terminally ill, see BMC pp.72-78.