Vinaya (3): The Cullavagga
by T. W. Rhys Davids | 1881 | 137,074 words
The Cullavagga (part of the Vinaya collection) includes accounts of the First and Second Buddhist Councils as well as the establishment of the community of Buddhist nuns. The Cullavagga also elaborates on the etiquette and duties of Bhikkhus....
Cullavagga, Khandaka 4, Chapter 8
1. 'Now, O Bhikkhus, an official act carried out against a Bhikkhu who has confessed himself guilty is invalid as follows, and is valid as follows. And how does such an official act become invalid? In case a Bhikkhu have committed a Pārājika offence, and in respect thereof either the Saṃgha, or a number of Bhikkhus, or a single Bhikkhu warns him, saying, "The venerable one has been guilty of a Pārājika." And he replies thus, "I have not, Sirs, been guilty of a Pārājika. I have been guilty of a Saṃghādisesa." And in respect thereof the Saṃgha deals with him for a Saṃghādisesa. Then that official act is invalid.'
[And so also if on being warned of any one of the seven offences[1] he confesses himself to be guilty of any one of the offences different from the one charged, then the official act is invalid.]
2. 'And when, O Bhikkhus, is such an official act valid? In case a Bhikkhu have committed a Pārājika offence, and in respect thereof the Saṃgha, or a number of Bhikkhus, or a single Bhikkhu warns him, saying, "The venerable one has been guilty of a Pārājika." And he replies, "Yea, Sirs, I have been guilty of a Pārājika." And in respect thereof the Saṃgha deals with him for a Pārājika. Then that official act is valid[2].'
[And so for each of the other offences mentioned in § 1, the whole of § 2 is repeated.]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
The same, namely, as those in the list given at Mahāvagga IV, 16, 12, &c.
[2]:
In other words, if a Bhikkhu confesses an offence different from that with which he has been charged, the confession cannot be used against him even as regards a decision with respect to the offence confessed.