Hi everyone!
Could anybody explain why in the Parajika sexual misconduct and stealing are placed before killing?
I know I listened to a Dhammatalk once (don’t know if it was Ajahn Brahm) where this was explained but I cannot remember the answer…
thank you for your help
The Buddha laid down each Vinaya ordinance when there arose circumstances that necessitated it. It just happened that Sudinna (the first monk to have sex) did his misdeed before Migalaṇḍika (the first monk to kill someone) did his.
Thank you
I am not a monk, but I think it might be not too ill-informed to notice that temptations toward sexual misconduct may be more common and therefore a more “pressing” concern than temptation to commit murder too.
I think the same thing. I don’t think it’s coincidence that:
2nd noble truth: Kāma-tanha, bhava-tanha, vibhava-tanha, Kāma is listed first.
In samma samkappo, right intention, for the 3 listed items, kāma-vitakka (thoughts of sensuality) is the first “wrong intention/thinking”.
In the 5 hindrances, kāma-c-chanda is listed first.
I believe kāma-āsava is listed first among the āsavas.
In the 3 poisons/fires, rāga, dosa, moha, rāga (passion) is often closely associated with kāma .
In the first jhāna, the first thing listed is “viviceva kāmehi”, seclusion from sensual pleasure objects.
kāma is public enemy #1, no surprise it’s the first parajika. Most of the 13 sanghadisesas have to do with kāma.
[quote=“frankk, post:5, topic:5747”]
kāma is public enemy #1, no surprise it’s the first parajika.[/quote]
I don’t think there’s any reason for this beyond the fact that Sudinna happened to be the first bhikkhu to do something wrong. After he has sex:
The earth-gods cried out: “Good sirs, the Order of monks has been stainless and free from danger. But Sudinna the Kalandaka has produced a stain, has produced danger.”
The gods belonging to the heaven of the four great kings hearing the cry of the earth-gods in turn cried out … the Tāvatiṃsa gods … the Yāma gods … the Tusita gods … the gods who delight in creation … the gods who control the creation of others … the gods belonging to the retinue of the supreme beings in turn cried out: “Good sirs, the Order of monks has been stainless and free from danger. But Sudinna the Kalandaka has produced a stain, has produced danger.” Thus in that moment, in that instance, the news spread as far as the world of the supreme beings.
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Later, in the course of rebuking Sudinna, the Buddha tells him:
“You’re the forerunner, the first performer of many unwholesome things.”
Actually it’s only the first four, though admittedly these are probably the ones that most often get broken.