Monks’ Analysis: on How Many Offences? (Pārājika)

Monks’ Pārājika 1

^{Prv.1.2:Bu-Pj.1} Indulging in sexual intercourse how many offences does one fall into? Indulging in sexual intercourse one falls into three offences: if one indulges in sexual intercourse with a body^[1] that is not decayed there is an offence involving Defeat.^[2] If one indulges in sexual intercourse with a body that is practically decayed there is a grave offence. If without touching the male organ one makes it enter an open mouth there is an offence of wrong-doing.^[3] Indulging in sexual intercourse one falls into these three offences.

Monks’ Pārājika 2

^{Prv.1.2:Bu-Pj.2} Taking what has not been given how many offences does one fall into? Taking what has not been given one falls into three offences: if one takes as it were by theft something to the value of five māsakas^[4] or more than five māsakas there is an offence involving Defeat.^[5] If one takes … to the value of more than one māsaka or less than five māsakas there is a grave offence.^[6] If one takes … to the value of a māsaka or less than a māsaka there is an offence of wrong-doing.^[7] Taking what has not been given one falls into these three offences.

Monks’ Pārājika 3

^{Prv.1.2:Bu-Pj.3 BD.6.50} Intentionally depriving a human being of life … one falls into three offences: if he digs a pitfall on purpose for a (certain) man, thinking, “Falling into it he will die,” there is an offence of wrong-doing. If falling down into it a painful feeling arises (in the man), there is a grave offence. If he dies there is an offence involving Defeat.^[8] Intentionally … he falls into these three offences.

Monks’ Pārājika 4

^{Prv.1.2:Bu-Pj.4} Laying claim (for oneself) to a non-existent, non-actual state of further-men … one falls into three offences: if, having evil desires, evil longings, he lays claim to a non-existent … there is an offence involving Defeat.^[9] If he says, “The monk who lives in this vihāra is an arahant,” there is a grave offence for acknowledging (a conscious lie); there is an offence of wrong-doing for not acknowledging it.^[10]

Concluded are the four Offences involving Defeat

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

sarīra is both physical frame and physical remains. Here really a corpse, a dead body, mata, as at Vin.3.29ff.

[2]:

Vin.3.37. In connection with what might be regarded as too great outspokenness in this Pārājika, I should like to draw attention to my remarks at BD.1, Introduction, p.xxxvii.

[3]:

Vin.3.37. In connection with what might be regarded as too great outspokenness in this Pārājika, I should like to draw attention to my remarks at BD.1, Introduction, p.xxxvii.

[4]:

See BD.1.71, BD.1.72 and notes.

[5]:

Vin.3.54f.

[6]:

Vin.3.54f.

[7]:

Vin.3.54f.

[8]:

Vin.3.76. It seems that the thoughts attributed to the malefactor result in the offences being given in an ascending order of gravity, rather than, as is more usual, in a descending order.

[9]:

Vin.3.92; and below BD.6.55.

[10]:

Vin.3.99; and also Vin.5.99. “For not acknowledging” means he was not aware beforehand or while he was speaking that he was telling conscious lie, see Vin.3.100, Kaṅkhāvitaraṇī 34.