Aṅguttara Nikāya
VIII. Atthaka Nipāta
IX. Sati-Vagga

VIII. The Book of the Eights

Chapter IX: Mindfulness

Sutta 89

Paṭisāraṇiya-Kamma Suttaṃ

Expiation

[228]

THUS have I heard:

Once the Exalted One was dwelling near Sāvatthī.

There the Exalted One addressed the monks, saying:

"Monks."

"Yes, lord," they replied, and the Exalted One said:

"Monks, the Order, should it wish,
may hold proceedings for the expiation¹ of the offence committed by a monk,
who is possessed of eight qualities.

What eight?

He goes about to bring loss to householders;
he goes about to bring harm to householders;
he reviles and defames them;
he causes disunion between householder and householder;
he speaks in dispraise of the Buddha,
of Dhamma,
of the Order;
and he does not make good² his solemn promise to householders.

Monks, the Order, should it wish,
may hold proceedings for the expiation of the offence committed by a monk,
who is possessed of these eight qualities.'

"Monks, the Order, should it wish,
may cancel proceedings for the expiation of the offence committed by a monk,
who is possessed of eight qualities.

What eight?

He does not go about to bring loss to householders;
he does not go about to bring harm to householders;
he does not revile and defame them;
he does not cause disunion between householder and householder;
he does not speak in dispraise of the Buddha,
of Dhamma,
of the Order;
and he makes good his solemn promise to householders.

Monks, the Order, should it wish,
may cancel proceedings for the expiation of the offence committed by a monk,
who is possessed of these eight qualities."

¹ Paṭisāraṇīya-kammaṃ; this is the name of the punishment of a monk, who has offended a layman; see, Child. s.v., Vin. ii, 19; G.S. i, 84.