The Buddha shares the consequences of causing division within the Saṅgha.

ITI 18  Saṅghabheda sutta - Schism in the Saṅgha

Vuttañhetaṁ bhagavatā vuttamarahatāti me sutaṁ:

This was said by the Blessed One, said by the Arahant, as I have heard:

“Ekadhammo, bhikkhave, loke uppajjamāno uppajjati bahujanāhitāya bahujanāsukhāya bahuno janassa anatthāya ahitāya dukkhāya devamanussānaṁ. Katamo ekadhammo? Saṅghabhedo. Saṅghe kho pana, bhikkhave, bhinne aññamaññaṁ bhaṇḍanāni ceva honti, aññamaññaṁ paribhāsā ca honti, aññamaññaṁ parikkhepā ca honti, aññamaññaṁ pariccajanā ca honti. Tattha appasannā ceva nappasīdanti, pasannānañca ekaccānaṁ aññathattaṁ hotī”ti.

“Bhikkhus, one thing arising in the world arises |for the harm of many people::that causes disadvantage, injury, and distress to a large group of people [bahujanāhitāya]|, |for the unhappiness of many people::leads to the unhappiness, trouble, and affliction of many people [bahujanāsukhāya]|, |for the misfortune::to the detriment [anatthāya]|, |disadvantage::damage [ahitāya]|, and |suffering::pain, discomfort, unease, unpleasantness, trouble, stress [dukkha]| of many people, both gods and humans. What is this one thing? |Schism in the Saṅgha::splitting apart of the Saṅgha, division within the monastic community [saṅghabhedo]|. When the Saṅgha is divided, |bhikkhus,::::,| there are mutual quarrels, mutual |abuse::insult, revilement [paribhāsā]|, mutual exclusion, and mutual |rejection::abandonment [pariccajana]|. In such a situation, those |without faith::who lack confidence; lit. not settled forward [appasannā]| do not develop faith, and some of those who have faith change their minds.”

Etamatthaṁ bhagavā avoca. Tatthetaṁ iti vuccati:

The Blessed One spoke on this matter. In this regard, it is said:

“Āpāyiko nerayiko,
Kappaṭṭho saṅghabhedako;
Vaggārāmo adhammaṭṭho,
Yogakkhemā padhaṁsati;
Saṅghaṁ samaggaṁ bhetvāna,
Kappaṁ nirayamhi paccatī”ti.

“One who causes schism in the Saṅgha is |destined for a miserable state::to be reborn in suffering [āpāyika]|,
destined for |hell::a place of intense suffering, lit. no good fortune [niraya]|, |remaining there for an aeon::lasting a world cycle, a vast cosmic time span [kappaṭṭha]|.
Taking pleasure in division, not living in accordance with the |Dhamma::teachings of the Buddha that point to the nature of reality, the ultimate truth [dhamma]|,
that one falls away from supreme security.
Having ruptured the |unified::harmonious [samagga]| Saṅgha,
that one suffers in hell for an aeon.”

Ayampi attho vutto bhagavatā, iti me sutanti.

This matter too was spoken by the Blessed One, as I have heard.

Qualities:

Argumentativeness

Argumentativeness

Disposition or tendency to argue, disagree or engage in contention, often motivated by conceit or attachment to views. It obstructs harmony and feeds quarrels, rivalry, and feuding.

Also known as: bickering, contentiousness, contrariness, quarrelsomeness
Pāli: kalaha, viggaha, vivāda
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Doubt

Doubt

Paralyzing indecision about the path or practice. Doubt obstructs confidence and clarity.

Also known as: confusion, indecisiveness, uncertainty, wavering, perplexity
Pāli: vicikiccha, kaṅkhā, vimati
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Feuding

Feuding

An entrenched pattern of opposition and rivalry where parties seek to prevail over one another. It sustains hostility, disturbs peace, and obstructs harmony in community.

Also known as: competitiveness, contentiousness, quarreling, rivalry, opposition, struggle, conflict
Pāli: paḷāsa
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Suffering

Suffering

Unpleasantness, discontentment, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, i.e. mild or intense suffering that is inherent in conditioned existence.

Also known as: discomfort, unpleasantness, discontentedness, dissatisfaction, stress, pain, disease, distress, affliction
Pāli: dukkha
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Last updated on April 14, 2026