Five cardinal sins
five cardinal sins
五逆・五逆罪 (Jpn go-gyaku or go-gyakuzai )
The five most serious offenses in Buddhism. Explanations vary according to the sutras and treatises. The most common is:
(1) killing one's father,
(2) killing one's mother,
(3) killing an arhat,
(4) injuring a Buddha, and
(5) causing disunity in the Buddhist Order.
It is said that those who commit any of the five cardinal sins invariably fall into the hell of incessant suffering. The last three offenses are collectively referred to as the three cardinal sins. Devadatta is well known for committing these three.
Buddha preached about five cardinal sins, or pañcānantarya (Pāli)[1] that a Buddhist or a non Buddhist should avoid. These are not to be confused with the Five Precepts or pañcasīla (Pāli). According to Buddhism committing such a crime would prevent him or her attaining the stages of Sotapanna, Sakadagami, Anagami or Arhat in that life time.[2] According to The Sutra Preached by the Buddha on the Total Extinction of the Dharma,[3] these five Sins are:
Injuring a Buddha
killing an Arhat
Creating schism in the society of Sangha
Matricide
Patricide
Injuring a Buddha
According to Buddhist beliefs no man (including Dewas, Asuras, Prethas, Brahmas) can do any life threatening harm to a Buddha. During the life of Gautama Buddha, one of his own disciples Devadatta tried and injured him. Devadatta, wanting to take over the running of the Great Sangha, tried to kill the Buddha himself by throwing a rock at him from on high, while the Buddha was walking on the slopes of a mountain. On its way down, the rock struck another rock and a splinter flew and wounded the Buddha's foot, causing blood to flow. This is the one incident that reports about the first sin.
Killing an Arhat
According to chronicles[which?] and Sri Lankan folklore King Kalanitissa killed an Arhat. The Arhat was put in a cauldron of boiling oil and made to die. according to the folklore after this incident there was a sea overflow.
Creating schism in the society of Sangha
This sin was also committed by Devadatta, in order to take the running of Mahāsāṃghika.
Matricide
The Great Thero Maudgalyayana (මුගලන් තෙරුන්) was beaten to death by a group of thieves in this life time. It is said that it was a result of a sin done by him in a previous life, "killing his parents".
Patricide
King Ajatasatru couldn't attain any stage of enlightenment because he killed his own father king Bimbisara.
