Verified
Grammatical Analysis
Pārājika: [adj./nt.] Defeat; involving defeat. Derived from parājaya (defeat, being overcome). Meaning one who has been defeated by defilements and lost the monastic life.
Orthodox Definition
Pārājika represents the most severe class of offenses in the monastic code. A monastic who commits a Pārājika offense is instantly stripped of their ordination status. They are “defeated,” likened to a person whose head has been cut off—they cannot be brought back to life as a monastic in this lifetime, regardless of their remorse. They must immediately disrobe and are permanently expelled from the Saṅgha.
There are four Pārājika rules for Bhikkhus:
- Engaging in sexual intercourse.
- Stealing something of significant value.
- Intentionally killing a human being, or inciting one to suicide.
- Falsely claiming supramundane states (like Jhāna or Arahatship) to others.
Quote
Uddiṭṭhā kho āyasmanto cattāro pārājikā dhammā.
Venerable sirs, the four Pārājika Dhammas have been recited.Yesaṃ bhikkhu aññataraṃ vā aññataraṃ vā āpajjitvā na labhati bhikkhūhi saddhiṃ saṃvāsaṃ yathā pure, tathā pacchā, pārājiko hoti asaṃvāso.
Whatever bhikkhu, having committed one or another of these, does not attain communion with bhikkhus as before, he is Pārājika and no longer in communion.Tatthāyasmante pucchāmi, kaccittha parisuddhā, dutiyampi pucchāmi, kaccittha parisuddhā, tatiyampi pucchāmi, kaccittha parisuddhā, parisuddhetthāyasmanto, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṃ dhārayāmīti.
Concerning this, venerable sirs, I ask you: Are you pure? A second time I ask: Are you pure? A third time I ask: Are you pure? Venerable sirs, you are pure here, therefore you are silent. I hold it thus.— Pātimokkha (Pārājikuddesa)
Textual References
- Vinaya: Suttavibhaṅga (Pārājikakaṇḍa) – The massive opening volume of the Vinaya detailing every possible variation, loophole, and exception (such as insanity or lack of intent) regarding these four rules.
- Commentary: Samantapāsādikā – Exhaustive casuistry to determine exactly what constitutes theft, murder, or sexual intercourse down to the most microscopic physical details.