An observation on the conditions for the fruition of the action of killing in Pali Buddhist Tradition

The Buddhist concept of Ppa shows great similitude with the concept of crime in modern law. While the modern law tries to protect the well being of the society through a mechanical code of laws, Buddhism does the same in a more efficient way through teaching of the penultimate values of ethics. In this paper conditions of killing taught in Buddhist Vinaya texts and commentaries are analyzed in relation to the panel code in Sri Lanka. While commenting on the Ptipt ( killing life forms) the first precept in the list of Five Precepts in the Papacasdani is known as the commentary on the Majjhimanikya declares those conditions. For the the action of killing to be completed these five qualities are given as essential. They are existence of a being (there should be a living one), recognition of being, intention of killing, planning, death of particular being due to the plan.1 These five conditions be identified with object, perception, intention, effort and death (OPIED). Vinaya Pitaka also explains that, by applying the term sacicca intention or the volition is a must to be committed into the actions of killing. But with the pledge of ethical values Buddhism goes beyond than the modern legal philosophy and says that if one would motivate a person to be killed by himself because of that intention the particular person committed can be committed to the act of killing. In law too same type of frame work is used to identify real killing. According to the code of criminal procedure act in Sri Lanka regulated in 1979 to be a murder the specific action should be governed by the intention. According to the article no 293 in the panel code of Sri lanka whoever causes death by doing an act with the intention of causing death or with the intention of causing such a bodily injury, as is like to cause death or with the knowledge that he is likely by such act to cause death commit the offence of culpable homicide. In this research these typical conditions in Buddhism and modern legal philosophy are discussed critically with special reference to the Manussaviggahaprjk (defeat of killing
1

tassa paca sambhr honti, po, psaino, vadhakacitta, upakkamo,tena maraa, Woods J.H, ed. (1983) Majjhimanikya, commentary, PTS, London.

human being) in the Prjikpli in the Vinaya Pitaka w and the commentarial interpretations on the Pntipta ( killing a being) in contrast with the act of criminal procedure in Sri Lanka. In this research I will primarily use texts in the Theravda Vinaya Literature and Pali commentaries. I will also refer Sri Lankan penal code plus relevant sources.

Key words :Ppa, Buddhism, Commentary, Vinaya Pitaka, Pli , Prjik, Sacicca, Ptipta, Manussaviggaha, Majjhima Nikya, Theravda