the 7 adhikaranasamathas

The category of adhikarašasamatha is slightly different in the sense that these are not, strictly speaking, rules but ways to proceed in order to settle conflicts..

Four kinds of conflicts are listed:

1. (vivádádhikaraša) dispute about what is dhamma, what is not dhamma, what is vinaya, what is not vinaya, what Buddha taught, what Buddha did not teach, what constitutes an offence, what does not constitute an offence;
2. (anuvádádhikaraša) accusation of párájika or of saµghádisesa;
3. (apattádhikaraša) infringement of a rule within one of the seven kinds of ápatti;
4. (kiccádhikaraša) disagreement on the procedures related to the four kammavácás.

To settle such conflicts, Buddha prescribed seven methods to proceed.

adhikarašasamatha 1

"sammukhá vinaya"

Settling a conflict by confrontation. The conflict is dealt with in the presence of the two parties in conformity with the vinaya.

adhikarašasamatha 2

"sati vinaya"

Settling a conflict by taking into account the reputation of a bhikkhu. The conflict is settled through a declaration by the saµgha with respect to the innocence of an arahanta against whom allegations have been made, after having asked him if he remembers to have committed the offence.

adhikarašasamatha 3

"amú¦havinaya"

Settling a conflict by taking into account the insanity of a bhikkhu. The conflict is settled through a declaration by the saµgha, when the accused is found to be insane.

adhikarašasamatha 4

"patiññáta karaša"

Settling a conflict after an admission. The conflict is settled after admission of a fault by the party concerned.

adhikarašasamatha 5

"yebhuyyasika kamma"

Settling a conflict by a majority decision. The conflict is settled after a decision taken by majority vote.

adhikarašasamatha 6

"tassapápiyasika kamma"

Settling a conflict by judgement of the ill will of a bhikkhu. The conflict is settled through a declaration by the saµgha in cases when the accused shows ill-will by eluding the questions addressed to him.

adhikarašasamatha 7

"tišavattháraka kamma"

Settling a conflict by covering the act with grass. The conflict is settled by exoneration of faults by the saµgha (except for párájika, saµghádisesa and any offence in relation with the laity), when this allows to terminate the dispute and to reconcile the parties is disagreement.