[Buddha-l] Re: Magic

[L.S. Cousins]

Ven. Dhammanando,

There are several interesting features about this.

One is historical. The rule is applied only to nuns in the 
Suttavibhanga. Only later in the Khandhakas is it extended in a minor 
degree to monks. Fears of witchcraft ?

Another is the definition of 'low arts'. This is precisely defined as 
any secular (baahiraka) knowledge which does not conduce to the goal 
(atthasa.mhita). So restricting the explanation to 'magic' would give 
a rationalist (effectively Protestant Buddhist :-)) tinge to it.

Five exceptions are given. Two are standard: mental illness and acts 
performed before the rule was declared.

But the other three are clear:

a) it is not an offence to learn to read and write;
b) it is not an offence to remember secular arts (presumably ones 
learnt earlier);
c) it is not an offence to learn or teach a spell for protection.

So if a monk attends a course in sociology or astronomy, he commits 
an offence each time he memorizes or teaches a phrase ?

Lance

>In fact the relevant rules are all in the Vinaya Pi.taka. In the 
>bhikkhunii paa.timokkha there are two rules, one prohibiting the 
>learning of low arts and the other the teaching of them 
>(Vin.iv.305). These actions are both paacittiya offences.
>
>The corresponding rules for bhikkhus are given in the Cullavagga 
>(Vin.ii.139), but for us the offence is only a dukka.ta.