• So It Was Said 18 Itivuttaka 18
  • The Book of the Ones Ekakanipāta
  • Chapter Two Dutiyavagga

Schism in the Saį¹…gha Saį¹…ghabhedasutta

This was said by the Buddha, the Perfected One: that is what I heard. Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

ā€œOne thing, mendicants, arises in the world for the detriment and suffering of the people, against the people, for the harm, detriment, and suffering of gods and humans. ā€œEkadhammo, bhikkhave, loke uppajjamāno uppajjati bahujanāhitāya bahujanāsukhāya bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ. What one thing? Katamo ekadhammo? Schism in the Saį¹…gha. Saį¹…ghabhedo. When the Saį¹…gha is split, they argue, insult, block, and forsake each other. Saį¹…ghe kho pana, bhikkhave, bhinne aƱƱamaƱƱaṁ bhaį¹‡įøanāni ceva honti, aƱƱamaƱƱaṁ paribhāsā ca honti, aƱƱamaƱƱaṁ parikkhepā ca honti, aƱƱamaƱƱaṁ pariccajanā ca honti. This doesn’t inspire confidence in those without it, and it causes some with confidence to change their minds.ā€ Tattha appasannā ceva nappasÄ«danti, pasannānaƱca ekaccānaṁ aƱƱathattaṁ hotÄ«ā€ti.

The Buddha spoke this matter. Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. On this it is said: Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

ā€œA schismatic remains for the eon ā€œÄ€pāyiko nerayiko, in a place of loss, in hell. Kappaį¹­į¹­ho saį¹…ghabhedako; Taking a stand against the teaching, Vaggārāmo adhammaį¹­į¹­ho, favoring factions, they ruin their sanctuary. Yogakkhemā padhaṁsati; After causing schism in a harmonious Saį¹…gha, Saį¹…ghaṁ samaggaṁ bhetvāna, they burn in hell for an eon.ā€ Kappaṁ nirayamhi paccatÄ«ā€ti.

This too is a matter that was spoken by the Blessed One: that is what I heard. Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.