Overview
Similar to the theft rules, the destruction of life carries precise legal criteria in orthodox Theravāda. For a monk to trigger the 3rd Pārājika (murder) or for a layperson to fully sever the 1st precept, the act of killing must fulfill five distinct conditions simultaneously. This framework clarifies the exact boundaries of kammic responsibility.
The List
- Pāṇo - Presence of a Living Being: There must be an actual, living being (human or animal) present.
- Pāṇasaññitā - Awareness of Life: The perpetrator must clearly know and perceive that the target is a living being.
- Vadhacittaṃ - Malicious Intent: The perpetrator must actively possess the explicit intent or will to kill or destroy that life.
- Upakkamo - Lethal Effort: The execution of a physical act, strike, poison, or weapon deployment designed to end the life.
- Maraṇaṃ - Resulting Death: The living being must die as a direct consequence of that specific effort.
Textual References
- Commentary: Samantapāsādikā (Commentary on the 3rd Pārājika) – Outlines how executioners, doctors who prescribe wrong medicines, or those who dig traps are judged under this fivefold matrix.