Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on lying

2. The training rule on abusive speech

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,

the monks from the group of six were arguing with and speaking abusively to the good monks.

They reviled and insulted them about their caste, name, family, occupation, profession, illnesses, physical traits, defilements, and offenses, and by calling them names.

The monks of few desires complained and criticized them,

“How can the monks from the group of six argue with and abuse good monks?

How can they revile and insult them about these things?”

After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks:

“Is it true, monks, that you’re doing this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them …

“Foolish men, how can you do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …”

After rebuking them …

he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

Jataka

“Once upon a time, monks, there was a brahmin in Takkasilā who had an ox called Nandivisāla.

On one occasion the ox said to that brahmin,

‘Go, brahmin, and bet a thousand coins with the wealthy merchant that your ox will pull one hundred carts tied together.’

And that brahmin did just that.

Then, after tying one hundred carts together and yoking Nandivisāla to them, he said,

‘Go, you fraud! Pull, you liar!’

But Nandivisāla didn’t budge.

Then that brahmin became depressed because he had lost a thousand coins.

Nandivisāla said to him,

‘Why are you depressed?’

‘Because I lost one thousand coins because of you.’

‘But why did you disgrace me by calling me a fraud when I’m not?

Now go, brahmin, and make the same bet with that merchant, but increase the stakes to two thousand coins.

Just don’t disgrace me by calling me a fraud.’

Once again that brahmin did just that.

Then, after tying one hundred carts together and yoking Nandivisāla to them, he said,

‘Go, good ox! Pull, good ox!’

And Nandivisāla pulled those one hundred carts.

‘One should say what’s pleasant,

Never what’s unpleasant.

Because of his pleasant speech,

Heavy loads were pulled,

And he obtained wealth;

And he was delighted with that.’

Even at that time, monks, reviling and insulting was unpleasant to me.

How then could reviling and insulting be pleasant now?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

‘If a monk speaks abusively, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

Speaks abusively:

he speaks abusively in ten ways: about caste, about name, about family, about occupation, about profession, about illnesses, about physical traits, about defilements, about offenses, and by name-calling.

Permutations

Definitions

Caste:

there are two kinds of castes: low castes and high castes.

Low castes:

outcasts, bamboo workers, hunters, carriage makers, waste removers—these are called “low castes”.

High castes:

aristocrats and brahmins—these are called “high castes”.

Name:

there are two kinds of names: low names and high names.

Low names:

Avakaṇṇaka, Javakaṇṇaka, Dhaniṭṭhaka, Saviṭṭhaka, Kulavaḍḍhaka, or names, in whatever countries, that are despised, looked down upon, scorned, treated with contempt, disregarded—these are called “low names”.

High names:

those connected with the Buddha, connected with the Teaching, or connected with the Sangha, or names, in whatever countries, that are highly regarded, highly thought of, respected, valued, esteemed—these are called “high names”.

Family:

there are two kinds of families: low families and high families.

Low families:

the Kosiya family, the Bhāradvāja family, or families, in whatever countries, that are despised, looked down upon, scorned, treated with contempt, disregarded—these are called “low families”.

High families:

the Gotama family, the Moggallāna family, the Kaccāna family, the Vāsiṭṭha family, or families, in whatever countries, that are highly regarded, highly thought of, respected, valued, esteemed—these are called “high families”.

Occupation:

there are two kinds of occupations: low occupations and high occupations.

Low occupations:

carpentry, waste removing, or occupations, in whatever countries, that are despised, looked down upon, scorned, treated with contempt, disregarded—these are called “low occupations”.

High occupations:

farming, trade, cattle keeping, or occupations, in whatever countries, that are highly regarded, highly thought of, respected, valued, esteemed—these are called “high occupations”.

Profession:

there are two kinds of professions: low professions and high professions.

Low professions:

reed work, pottery, weaving, leather work, hairdressing, or professions, in whatever countries, that are despised, looked down upon, scorned, treated with contempt, disregarded—these are called “low professions”.

High professions:

arithmetic, accounting, writing, or professions, in whatever countries, that are highly regarded, highly thought of, respected, valued, esteemed—these are called “high professions”.

Illnesses:

all are low, but there is the illness of diabetes which is high.

Physical traits:

there are two kinds of physical traits: low physical traits and high physical traits.

Low physical traits:

too tall, too short, too dark, too fair—these are called “low physical traits”.

High physical traits:

not too tall, not too short, not too dark, not too fair—these are called “high physical traits”.

Defilements:

all are low.

Offenses:

all are low, but there is the attainment of stream-entry which is high.

Name-calling:

there are two kinds of name-calling: low name-calling and high name-calling.

Low name-calling:

“You’re a camel,” “You’re a ram,” “You’re an ox,” “You’re a donkey,” “You’re an animal,” “You’re bound for hell,” “You’re not going to a good destination,” “You can only expect a bad destination,” or adding disparaging endings to someone’s name, or calling someone words for the male or female genitals—this is called “low name-calling”.

High name-calling:

“You’re wise,” “You’re competent,” “You’re intelligent,” “You’re learned,” “You’re an expounder of the Teaching,” “You’re not going to a bad destination,” “You can only expect a good destination”—this is called “high name-calling”.

Exposition

Abuse about caste

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is low—an outcast, a bamboo worker, a hunter, a carriage maker, a waste remover—saying, “You’re an outcast,” “You’re a bamboo worker,” “You’re a hunter,” “You’re a carriage maker,” “You’re a waste remover,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is high—an aristocrat, a brahmin—saying, “You’re an outcast,” “You’re a bamboo worker,” “You’re a hunter,” “You’re a carriage maker,” “You’re a waste remover,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is low—an outcast, a bamboo worker, a hunter, a carriage maker, a waste remover—saying, “You’re an aristocrat,” “You’re a brahmin,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is high—an aristocrat, a brahmin—saying, “You’re an aristocrat,” “You’re a brahmin,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Abuse about name

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is low—an Avakaṇṇaka, a Javakaṇṇaka, a Dhaniṭṭhaka, a Saviṭṭhaka, a Kulavaḍḍhaka—

saying, “You’re an Avakaṇṇaka,” “You’re a Javakaṇṇaka,” “You’re a Dhaniṭṭhaka,” “You’re a Saviṭṭhaka,” “You’re a Kulavaḍḍhaka,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is high—a Buddharakkhita, a Dhammarakkhita, a Sangharakkhita—saying, “You’re an Avakaṇṇaka,” “You’re a Javakaṇṇaka,” “You’re a Dhaniṭṭhaka,” “You’re a Saviṭṭhaka,” “You’re a Kulavaḍḍhaka,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is low—an Avakaṇṇaka, a Javakaṇṇaka, a Dhaniṭṭhaka, a Saviṭṭhaka, a Kulavaḍḍhaka—saying, “You’re a Buddharakkhita,” “You’re a Dhammarakkhita,” “You’re a Sangharakkhita,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is high—a Buddharakkhita, a Dhammarakkhita, a Sangharakkhita—saying, “You’re a Buddharakkhita,” “You’re a Dhammarakkhita,” “You’re a Sangharakkhita,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Abuse about family

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is low—one from the Kosiya family, one from the Bhāradvāja family—saying, “You’re a Kosiya,” “You’re a Bhāradvāja,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is high—one from the Gotama family, one from the Moggallāna family, one from the Kaccāna family, one from the Vāsiṭṭha family—saying, “You’re a Kosiya,” “You’re a Bhāradvāja,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is low—one from the Kosiya family, one from the Bhāradvāja family—saying, “You’re a Gotama,” “You’re a Moggallāna,” “You’re a Kaccāna,” “You’re a Vāsiṭṭha,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is high—one from the Gotama family, one from the Moggallāna family, one from the Kaccāna family, one from the Vāsiṭṭha family—saying, “You’re a Gotama,” “You’re a Moggallāna,” “You’re a Kaccāna,” “You’re a Vāsiṭṭha,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Abuse about occupation

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is low—a carpenter, a waste remover—saying, “You’re a carpenter,” “You’re a waste remover,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is high—a farmer, a trader, a cattle keeper—

saying, “You’re a carpenter,” “You’re a waste remover,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is low—a carpenter, a waste remover—saying, “You’re a farmer,” “You’re a trader,” “You’re a cattle keeper,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is high—a farmer, a trader, a cattle keeper—saying, “You’re a farmer,” “You’re a trader,” “You’re a cattle keeper,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Abuse about profession

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is low—a reed worker, a potter, a weaver, a leather worker, a barber—saying, “You’re a reed worker,” “You’re a potter,” “You’re a weaver,” “You’re a leather worker,” “You’re a barber,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is high—an arithmetician, an accountant, a clerk—saying, “You’re a reed worker,” “You’re a potter,” “You’re a weaver,” “You’re a leather worker,” “You’re a barber,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is low—a reed worker, a potter, a weaver, a leather worker, a barber—saying, “You’re an arithmetician,” “You’re an accountant,” “You’re a clerk,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is high—an arithmetician, an accountant, a clerk—saying, “You’re an arithmetician,” “You’re an accountant,” “You’re a clerk,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Abuse about illnesses

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is low—a leper, one with abscesses, one with mild leprosy, one with tuberculosis, an epileptic—saying, “You’re a leper,” “You have abscesses,” “You have mild leprosy,” “You have tuberculosis,” “You’re an epileptic,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is high—a diabetic—saying, “You’re a leper,” “You have abscesses,” “You have mild leprosy,” “You have tuberculosis,” “You’re an epileptic,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is low—a leper, one with abscesses, one with mild leprosy, one with tuberculosis, an epileptic—saying, “You’re a diabetic,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is high—a diabetic—saying, “You’re a diabetic,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Abuse about physical traits

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is low—one who is too tall, one who is too short, one who is too dark, one who is too fair—saying, “You’re too tall,” “You’re too short,” “You’re too dark,” “You’re too fair,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is high—one who is not too tall, one who is not too short, one who is not too dark, one who is not too fair—saying, “You’re too tall,” “You’re too short,” “You’re too dark,” “You’re too fair,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is low—one who is too tall, one who is too short, one who is too dark, one who is too fair—saying, “You’re not too tall,” “You’re not too short,” “You’re not too dark,” “You’re not too fair,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is high—one who is not too tall, one who is not too short, one who is not too dark, one who is not too fair—saying, “You’re not too tall,” “You’re not too short,” “You’re not too dark,” “You’re not too fair,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Abuse about defilements

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is low—one full of sensual desire, one full of ill will, one full of confusion—saying, “You’re full of sensual desire,” “You’re full of ill will,” “You’re full of confusion,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is high—one without sensual desire, one without ill will, one without confusion—saying, “You’re full of sensual desire,” “You’re full of ill will,” “You’re full of confusion,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is low—one full of sensual desire, one full of ill will, one full of confusion—saying, “You’re without sensual desire,” “You’re without ill will,” “You’re without confusion,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is high—one without sensual desire, one without ill will, one without confusion—saying, “You’re without sensual desire,” “You’re without ill will,” “You’re without confusion,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Abuse about offenses

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is low—one who has committed an offense entailing expulsion, one who has committed an offense entailing suspension, one who has committed a serious offense, one who has committed an offense entailing confession, one who has committed an offense entailing acknowledgment, one who has committed an offense of wrong conduct, one who has committed an offense of wrong speech—saying, “You’ve committed an offense entailing expulsion,” “You’ve committed an offense entailing suspension,” “You’ve committed a serious offense,” “You’ve committed an offense entailing confession,” “You’ve committed an offense entailing acknowledgment,” “You’ve committed an offense of wrong conduct,” “You’ve committed an offense of wrong speech,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is high—a stream-enterer—saying, “You’ve committed an offense entailing expulsion,” “You’ve committed an offense entailing suspension,” “You’ve committed a serious offense,” “You’ve committed an offense entailing confession,” “You’ve committed an offense entailing acknowledgment,” “You’ve committed an offense of wrong conduct,” “You’ve committed an offense of wrong speech,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is low—one who has committed an offense entailing expulsion, one who has committed an offense entailing suspension, one who has committed a serious offense, one who has committed an offense entailing confession, one who has committed an offense entailing acknowledgment, one who has committed an offense of wrong conduct, one who has committed an offense of wrong speech—saying, “You’re a stream-enterer,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is high—a stream-enterer—saying, “You’re a stream-enterer,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Insulting abuse

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is low—a camel, a ram, an ox, a donkey, an animal, one bound for hell—saying, “You’re a camel,” “You’re a ram,” “You’re an ox,” “You’re a donkey,” “You’re an animal,” “You’re bound for hell,” “You’re not going to a good destination,” “You can only expect a bad destination,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is low to one who is high—one who is wise, one who is competent, one who is intelligent, one who is learned, one who is an expounder of the Teaching—saying, “You’re a camel,” “You’re a ram,” “You’re an ox,” “You’re a donkey,” “You’re an animal,” “You’re bound for hell,” “You’re not going to a good destination,” “You can only expect a bad destination,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is low—a camel, a ram, an ox, a donkey, an animal, one bound for hell—saying, “You’re wise,” “You’re competent,” “You’re intelligent,” “You’re learned,” “You’re an expounder of the Teaching,” “You’re not going to a bad destination,” “You can only expect a good destination,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says what is high to one who is high—one who is wise, one who is competent, one who is intelligent, one who is learned, one who is an expounder of the Teaching—saying, “You’re wise,” “You’re competent,” “You’re intelligent,” “You’re learned,” “You’re an expounder of the Teaching,” “You’re not going to a bad destination,” “You can only expect a good destination,” then for every statement, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Indirect abuse

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says, “There are outcasts right here,” “There are bamboo workers right here,” “There are hunters right here,” “There are carriage makers right here,” “There are waste removers right here,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says, “There are aristocrats right here,” “There are brahmins right here,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says, “There are Avakaṇṇakas right here,” “There are Javakaṇṇakas right here,” “There are Dhaniṭṭhakas right here,” “There are Saviṭṭhakas right here,” “There are Kulavaḍḍhakas right here,” …

says, “There are Buddharakkhitas right here,” “There are Dhammarakkhitas right here,” “There are Sangharakkhitas right here,” …

says, “There are Kosiyas right here,” “There are Bhāradvājas right here,” …

says, “There are Gotamas right here,” “There are Moggallānas right here,” “There are Kaccānas right here,” “There are Vāsiṭṭhas right here,” …

says, “There are carpenters right here,” “There are waste removers right here,” …

says, “There are farmers right here,” “There are traders right here,” “There are cattle keepers right here,” …

says, “There are reed workers right here,” “There are potters right here,” “There are weavers right here,” “There are leather workers right here,” “There are barbers right here,” …

says, “There are arithmeticians right here,” “There are accountants right here,” “There are clerks right here,” …

says, “There are lepers right here,” “There are some with abscesses right here,” “There are some with mild leprosy right here,” “There are some with tuberculosis right here,” “There are epileptics right here,” …

says, “There are diabetics right here,” …

says, “There are some who are too tall right here,” “There are some who are too short right here,” “There are some who are too dark right here,” “There are some who are too fair right here,” …

says, “There are some who are not too tall right here,” “There are some who are not too short right here,” “There are some who are not too dark right here,” “There are some who are not too fair right here,” …

says, “There are some who are full of sensual desire right here,” “There are some who are full of ill will right here,” “There are some who are full of confusion right here,” …

says, “There are some without sensual desire right here,” “There are some without ill will right here,” “There are some without confusion right here,” …

says, “There are some who have committed an offense entailing expulsion right here … etc. …

some who have committed an offense of wrong speech right here,” …

says, “There are stream-enterers right here,” …

says, “There are camels right here,” “There are rams right here,” “There are oxen right here,” “There are donkeys right here,” “There are animals right here,” “There are those bound for hell right here,” “There are those not going to a good destination right here,” “There are those who can only expect a bad destination right here,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says, “There are wise ones right here,” “There are competent ones right here,” “There are intelligent ones right here,” “There are learned ones right here,” “There are expounders of the Teaching right here,” “There are those not going to a bad destination right here,” “There are those who can only expect a good destination right here,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says, “Perhaps these are outcasts,” “Perhaps these are bamboo workers,” “Perhaps these are hunters,” “Perhaps these are carriage makers,” “Perhaps these are waste removers,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. …

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says, “Perhaps these are wise ones,” “Perhaps these are competent ones,” “Perhaps these are intelligent ones,” “Perhaps these are learned ones,” “Perhaps these are expounders of the Teaching,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, says, “We’re not outcasts,” “We’re not bamboo workers,” “We’re not hunters,” “We’re not carriage makers,” “We’re not waste removers,” …

“We’re not wise ones,” “We’re not competent ones,” “We’re not intelligent ones,” “We’re not learned ones,” “We’re not expounders of the Teaching,” “We’re not going to a bad destination,” “We can only expect a good destination,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Abuse of one who is not fully ordained

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate someone who is not fully ordained, says what is low to one who is low …

says what is low to one who is high …

says what is high to one who is low …

says what is high to one who is high—one who is wise, one who is competent, one who is intelligent, one who is learned, one who is an expounder of the Teaching—saying, “You’re wise,” “You’re competent,” “You’re intelligent,” “You’re learned,” “You’re an expounder of the Teaching,” “You’re not going to a bad destination,” “You can only expect a good destination,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate someone who is not fully ordained, says, “There are outcasts right here,” “There are bamboo workers right here,” “There are hunters right here,” “There are carriage makers right here,” “There are waste removers right here,” …

“There are wise ones right here,” “There are competent ones right here,” “There are intelligent ones right here,” “There are learned ones right here,” “There are expounders of the Teaching right here,” “There are those not going to a bad destination right here,” “There are those who can only expect a good destination right here,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate someone who is not fully ordained, says, “Perhaps these are outcasts,” “Perhaps these are bamboo workers,” “Perhaps these are hunters,” “Perhaps these are carriage makers,” “Perhaps these are waste removers,” …

“Perhaps these are wise ones,” “Perhaps these are competent ones,” “Perhaps these are intelligent ones,” “Perhaps these are learned ones,” “Perhaps these are expounders of the Teaching,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If one who is fully ordained, wishing to revile, wishing to insult, wishing to humiliate someone who is not fully ordained, says, “We’re not outcasts,” “We’re not bamboo workers,” “We’re not hunters,” “We’re not carriage makers,” “We’re not waste removers,” …

“We’re not wise ones,” “We’re not competent ones,” “We’re not intelligent ones,” “We’re not learned ones,” “We’re not expounders of the Teaching,” “We’re not going to a bad destination,” “We can only expect a good destination,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Not intending to abuse, direct speech

If one who is fully ordained, not wishing to revile, not wishing to insult, not wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, but wanting to have fun, says what is low to one who is low—an outcast, a bamboo worker, a hunter, a carriage maker, a waste remover—saying, “You’re an outcast,” “You’re a bamboo worker,” “You’re a hunter,” “You’re a carriage maker,” “You’re a waste remover,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong speech.

If one who is fully ordained, not wishing to revile, not wishing to insult, not wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, but wanting to have fun, says what is low to one who is high—an aristocrat, a brahmin—saying, “You’re an outcast,” “You’re a bamboo worker,” “You’re a hunter,” “You’re a carriage maker,” “You’re a waste remover,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong speech.

If one who is fully ordained, not wishing to revile, not wishing to insult, not wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, but wanting to have fun, says what is high to one who is low—an outcast, a bamboo worker, a hunter, a carriage maker, a waste remover—saying, “You’re an aristocrat,” “You’re a brahmin,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong speech.

If one who is fully ordained, not wishing to revile, not wishing to insult, not wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, but wanting to have fun, says what is high to one who is high—an aristocrat, a brahmin—saying, “You’re an aristocrat,” “You’re a brahmin,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong speech.

If one who is fully ordained, not wishing to revile, not wishing to insult, not wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, but wanting to have fun, says what is low to one who is low …

says what is low to one who is high …

says what is high to one who is low …

says what is high to one who is high—one who is wise, one who is competent, one who is intelligent, one who is learned, one who is an expounder of the Teaching—

saying, “You’re wise,” “You’re competent,” “You’re intelligent,” “You’re learned,” “You’re an expounder of the Teaching,” “You’re not going to a bad destination,” “You can only expect a good destination,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong speech.

Not intending to abuse, indirect speech

If one who is fully ordained, not wishing to revile, not wishing to insult, not wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, but wanting to have fun, says, “There are outcasts right here,” “There are bamboo workers right here,” “There are hunters right here,” “There are carriage makers right here,” “There are waste removers right here,” …

“There are wise ones right here,” “There are competent ones right here,” “There are intelligent ones right here,” “There are learned ones right here,” “There are expounders of the Teaching right here,” “There are those not going to a bad destination right here,” “There are those who can only expect a good destination right here,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong speech.

If one who is fully ordained, not wishing to revile, not wishing to insult, not wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, but wanting to have fun, says, “Perhaps these are outcasts,” “Perhaps these are bamboo workers,” “Perhaps these are hunters,” “Perhaps these are carriage makers,” “Perhaps these are waste removers,” …

“Perhaps these are wise ones,” “Perhaps these are competent ones,” “Perhaps these are intelligent ones,” “Perhaps these are learned ones,” “Perhaps these are expounders of the Teaching,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong speech.

If one who is fully ordained, not wishing to revile, not wishing to insult, not wishing to humiliate another who is fully ordained, but wanting to have fun, says, “We’re not outcasts,” “We’re not bamboo workers,” “We’re not hunters,” “We’re not carriage makers,” “We’re not waste removers,” …

“We’re not wise ones,” “We’re not competent ones,” “We’re not intelligent ones,” “We’re not learned ones,” “We’re not expounders of the Teaching,” “We’re not going to a bad destination,” “We can only expect a good destination,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong speech.

Not intending to abuse one who is not fully ordained

If one who is fully ordained, not wishing to revile, not wishing to insult, not wishing to humiliate someone who is not fully ordained, but wanting to have fun, says what is low to one who is low …

says what is low to one who is high …

says what is high to one who is low …

says what is high to one who is high—one who is wise, one who is competent, one who is intelligent, one who is learned, one who is an expounder of the Teaching—

saying, “You’re wise,” “You’re competent,” “You’re intelligent,” “You’re learned,” “You’re an expounder of the Teaching,” “You’re not going to a bad destination,” “You can only expect a good destination,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong speech.

If one who is fully ordained, not wishing to revile, not wishing to insult, not wishing to humiliate someone who is not fully ordained, but wanting to have fun, says, “There are outcasts right here,” “There are bamboo workers right here,” “There are hunters right here,” “There are carriage makers right here,” “There are waste removers right here,” …

“There are wise ones right here,” “There are competent ones right here,” “There are intelligent ones right here,” “There are learned ones right here,” “There are expounders of the Teaching right here,” “There are those not going to a bad destination right here,” “There are those who can only expect a good destination right here,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong speech.

If one who is fully ordained, not wishing to revile, not wishing to insult, not wishing to humiliate someone who is not fully ordained, but wanting to have fun, says, “Perhaps these are outcasts,” “Perhaps these are bamboo workers,” “Perhaps these are hunters,” “Perhaps these are carriage makers,” “Perhaps these are waste removers,” …

“Perhaps these are wise ones,” “Perhaps these are competent ones,” “Perhaps these are intelligent ones,” “Perhaps these are learned ones,” “Perhaps these are expounders of the Teaching,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong speech.

If one who is fully ordained, not wishing to revile, not wishing to insult, not wishing to humiliate someone who is not fully ordained, but wanting to have fun, says, “We’re not outcasts,” “We’re not bamboo workers,” “We’re not hunters,” “We’re not carriage makers,” “We’re not waste removers,” …

“We’re not wise ones,” “We’re not competent ones,” “We’re not intelligent ones,” “We’re not learned ones,” “We’re not expounders of the Teaching,” “We’re not going to a bad destination,” “We can only expect a good destination,” then for every statement, he commits an offense of wrong speech.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if he is aiming at something beneficial;

if he is aiming at giving a teaching;

if he is aiming at giving an instruction;

if he is insane;

if he is deranged;

if he is overwhelmed by pain;

if he is the first offender.

The training rule on abusive speech, the second, is finished.