The Buddha shares the importance of correctly explaining offenses and non-offenses, and the harm or benefit that comes from doing so.

AN 1.150-169  Anāpatti vagga - The Chapter on Non-Offense

1.150

“Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū anāpattiṁ āpattīti dīpenti te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bahujanaahitāya paṭipannā bahujanaasukhāya, bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ. Bahuñca te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū apuññaṁ pasavanti, te cimaṁ saddhammaṁ antaradhāpentī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who |explain::illustrate, illuminate [dīpenti]| a non-offense as an offense are acting for the detriment of many people, for the unhappiness of many people, for the harm, detriment, and suffering of many people, of gods and human beings. Those bhikkhus generate much |demerit::loss of spiritual wealth [apuñña]| and cause the |true Dhamma::good teaching [saddhamma]| to disappear.”

Paṭhamaṁ.

First.

1.151

“Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū āpattiṁ anāpattīti dīpenti te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bahujanaahitāya paṭipannā bahujanaasukhāya, bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ. Bahuñca te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū apuññaṁ pasavanti, te cimaṁ saddhammaṁ antaradhāpentī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who explain an offense as a non-offense are acting for the detriment of many people, for the unhappiness of many people, for the harm, detriment, and suffering of many people, of gods and human beings. Those bhikkhus generate much demerit and cause the true Dhamma to disappear.”

Dutiyaṁ.

Second.

1.152-159

“Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū lahukaṁ āpattiṁ garukā āpattīti dīpenti …pe… garukaṁ āpattiṁ lahukā āpattīti dīpenti …pe… duṭṭhullaṁ āpattiṁ aduṭṭhullā āpattīti dīpenti …pe… aduṭṭhullaṁ āpattiṁ duṭṭhullā āpattīti dīpenti …pe… sāvasesaṁ āpattiṁ anavasesā āpattīti dīpenti …pe… anavasesaṁ āpattiṁ sāvasesā āpattīti dīpenti …pe… sappaṭikammaṁ āpattiṁ appaṭikammā āpattīti dīpenti …pe… appaṭikammaṁ āpattiṁ sappaṭikammā āpattīti dīpenti te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bahujanaahitāya paṭipannā bahujanaasukhāya, bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ. Bahuñca te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū apuññaṁ pasavanti, te cimaṁ saddhammaṁ antaradhāpentī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who explain a light offense as a heavy offense … explain a heavy offense as a light offense … explain a grave offense as a non-grave offense … explain a non-grave offense as a grave offense … explain a remediable offense as an irremediable offense … explain an irremediable offense as a remediable offense … explain a |rectifiable::amendable; lit. with doing back [sappaṭikamma]| offense as an unrectifiable offense … explain an unrectifiable offense as a rectifiable offense are acting for the detriment of many people, for the unhappiness of many people, for the harm, detriment, and suffering of many people, of gods and human beings. Those bhikkhus generate much demerit and cause the true Dhamma to disappear.”

Dasamaṁ.

Tenth.

1.160

“Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū anāpattiṁ anāpattīti dīpenti te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bahujanahitāya paṭipannā bahujanasukhāya, bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ. Bahuñca te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū puññaṁ pasavanti, te cimaṁ saddhammaṁ ṭhapentī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who explain a non-offense as a non-offense are acting for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, for the good, welfare, and happiness of many people, of gods and human beings. Those bhikkhus generate much merit and sustain the true Dhamma.”

Ekādasamaṁ.

Eleventh.

1.161

“Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū āpattiṁ āpattīti dīpenti te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bahujanahitāya paṭipannā bahujanasukhāya, bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ. Bahuñca te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū puññaṁ pasavanti, te cimaṁ saddhammaṁ ṭhapentī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who explain an offense as an offense are acting for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, for the good, welfare, and happiness of many people, of gods and human beings. Those bhikkhus generate much merit and sustain the true Dhamma.”

Dvādasamaṁ.

Twelfth.

1.162-169

“Ye te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū lahukaṁ āpattiṁ lahukā āpattīti dīpenti garukaṁ āpattiṁ garukā āpattīti dīpenti duṭṭhullaṁ āpattiṁ duṭṭhullā āpattīti dīpenti aduṭṭhullaṁ āpattiṁ aduṭṭhullā āpattīti dīpenti sāvasesaṁ āpattiṁ sāvasesā āpattīti dīpenti anavasesaṁ āpattiṁ anavasesā āpattīti dīpenti sappaṭikammaṁ āpattiṁ sappaṭikammā āpattīti dīpenti appaṭikammaṁ āpattiṁ appaṭikammā āpattīti dīpenti; te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū bahujanahitāya paṭipannā bahujanasukhāya, bahuno janassa atthāya hitāya sukhāya devamanussānaṁ. Bahuñca te, bhikkhave, bhikkhū puññaṁ pasavanti, te cimaṁ saddhammaṁ ṭhapentī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, those bhikkhus who explain a light offense as a light offense … explain a heavy offense as a heavy offense … explain a grave offense as a grave offense … explain a non-grave offense as a non-grave offense … explain a remediable offense as a remediable offense … explain an irremediable offense as an irremediable offense … explain a rectifiable offense as a rectifiable offense … explain an unrectifiable offense as an unrectifiable offense are acting for the welfare of many people, for the happiness of many people, for the good, welfare, and happiness of many people, of gods and human beings. Those bhikkhus generate much merit and sustain the true Dhamma.”

Vīsatimaṁ.

Twentieth.

Qualities:

Ethical conduct

Ethical conduct

A disciplined way of living grounded in harmlessness and integrity. Ethical conduct restrains the body and speech from harm, purifies behavior, and forms the foundation for collectedness and wisdom.

Also known as: moral integrity, right action, virtue
Pāli: sīla, sammākammanta
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Merit

Merit

Wholesome result of good conduct, generosity, and right intention. Merit brightens the mind and supports happiness and favorable conditions for practice.

Also known as: good deeds, spiritual wealth
Pāli: puñña, kalyāṇa
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Harm

Harm

Intention or action that causes injury or suffering to oneself or others. It arises from aversion and heedlessness and destroys trust and safety. The opposite of non-harm, it obscures compassion and leads to regret.

Also known as: injury causing behavior, destructiveness, bad, evil
Pāli: pāpaka
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Last updated on February 15, 2026