四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 2.17

2.17

The eighth precept: Groundless defamation. 1. Intention of the enactment: When living together as renunciants, according to principle they should be harmonious and gentle, mutually protecting and tolerating one another without provoking irritation. Now, harboring anger, one arbitrarily seizes upon a grave matter to slander another, corrupting one's own mental conduct, increasing [the cycle of] birth and death, and destroying the true Dharma; moreover, defiling the virtuous, who are distinguished as exceptional among the assembly, tormenting another for a whole lifetime, and causing him to abandon the cultivation of correct practice. Because the deceit is profound, the sage's enactment was necessary. 2. Explaining the name: Internally lacking the three truths is called "groundless"; falsely accusing with a grave matter is called "defamation." Hence it is called the precept against groundless defamation. 3. Possessing the conditions: General conditions are as above; specific conditions are eight: (1) It is a fully ordained monk or nun, excluding the lower two assemblies; (2) The perception that they are a fully ordained monk or nun; (3) Harboring anger internally; (4) Lacking the three grounds; (5) Falsely accusing with a grave matter; (6) Down to [doing so] in the presence of one monk; (7) The words are clear and distinct; (8) The other person understands. 4. Deficient conditions: If the first condition is deficient because it involves the other five assemblies, deficient with respect to the object, there are ten thullaccayas; if the second is deficient, doubts and perceptions each have five [thullaccayas]; if anger is deficient, there is no offense of defamation at all; if one possesses the three grounds but only makes an improper formal accusation, or if it concerns a minor matter like another's [fault], there may be a prāyaścittika or duṣkṛta; if the remaining conditions are deficient, there are light or heavy thullaccayas. Below, the Prātimokṣa text is properly set forth. This precept was laid down because the monk Mettiya received a poor dwelling and poor food, and thereupon had his sister, a nun, falsely accuse [Dabba Mallaputta] with a grave matter; the Buddha laid down the precept on this account.