Dhamma Principles › Channa Fells a Shrine Tree: Let the Community Inspect the Site Before Building
Channa Fells a Shrine Tree: Let the Community Inspect the Site Before Building
Everyday life

Channa Fells a Shrine Tree: Let the Community Inspect the Site Before Building

Bhikkhū abhinetabbā vatthudesanāya

While clearing a site for a dwelling, Channa has a tree cut down that was revered from the village up to the whole country. The Buddha rules that a monk building a large dwelling must bring the Saṅgha to approve the site first, choosing a place that disturbs neither animals nor people and has open space around it.

7 points

In the seventh saṅghādisesa rule of the Great Analysis, Vinaya Piṭaka volume 1, the Buddha is staying at Ghositārāma in Kosambī. A householder who supported Venerable Channa offers to build him a dwelling and asks him to choose the site. While clearing it, Channa has a shrine tree cut down, one revered by villagers, townspeople, city dwellers and the people of the district and country. The rule is monastic discipline, but the thinking it requires before building applies to everyone.

People criticised the Sakyan ascetics for harming life with one sense faculty. The Buddha questioned Channa and rebuked him, giving the reason that people regard trees as alive. He then ruled that a monk having a large dwelling built, with a sponsor and for himself, must bring monks to designate the site, and they must designate a site that is not disturbed and has open space around it.

The analysis explains how to ask the Saṅgha, how to appoint capable monks to inspect the site, and what a disturbed site and open surroundings mean. The preceding rule, on a hut a monk builds by his own begging, uses the same site criteria.

  1. 1

    What others revere Cetiyarukkhaṃ chedāpesi

    The tree Channa had cut down was a shrine tree revered by people from the village level up to the whole country, not an ordinary tree on a plot of land. Felling it hurt many people's feelings and brought criticism on all the Sakyan ascetics, not just Channa.

    Applying it in daily life

    Before demolishing or renovating something old in a community, such as a shrine, a large tree or a building people are attached to, ask local people first what it means to them.

  2. 2

    Considering what ordinary people believe Jīvasaññino hi moghapurisa manussā rukkhasmiṃ

    People criticised the ascetics for harming life with one sense faculty. The Buddha rebuked Channa, giving the reason that people regard trees as alive; such an act does not inspire confidence in those without it, and causes some who have it to waver.

    Applying it in daily life

    Even if you think an action is not wrong, consider how those around you see it. If it would needlessly cost the trust of many people, look for another way.

  3. 3

    Not deciding alone Bhikkhū abhinetabbā vatthudesanāya

    The monk who wishes to build must go to the Saṅgha and ask it to inspect the site, asking up to three times. If the whole Saṅgha cannot go, it appoints capable monks who can tell whether the site is disturbed and has open space around it. If the site is unsuitable they say, "Don't build here"; if suitable, they inform the Saṅgha so it can formally designate the site.

    Applying it in daily life

    For projects that affect others, such as extending your house next to a neighbour's fence or holding an event in a shared space, have knowledgeable people look it over and get the agreement of those concerned before starting.

  4. 4

    Not building over animals' homes Kipillikānaṃ vā āsayo

    The analysis explains that a disturbed site is one that is home to ants, termites, rats, snakes, scorpions, centipedes, elephants, horses, tigers, bears or other animals. A dwelling should not be built on such a site.

    Applying it in daily life

    Before filling in land or cutting trees in your garden, check for nests or animal homes, then find a way around them or wait until the animals have moved on.

  5. 5

    Not building where you disturb or are disturbed Pānāgāranissitaṃ

    A disturbed site also includes one near fields, near places of execution or torture, a cemetery, a park, royal property, elephant or horse stables, a prison, a tavern, a road, a crossroads, a public meeting place, or a thoroughfare.

    Applying it in daily life

    When choosing a place to live or open a shop, think both ways: will the place disturb your peace, and will you obstruct other people's livelihoods or routes?

  6. 6

    Leaving space around the building Yathāyuttena sakaṭena

    A site with open surroundings is one around which an ordinary yoked cart can go, and around which a ladder can be placed on every side. A large dwelling should not be built on a site without such space.

    Applying it in daily life

    When extending your house, leave space around it for maintenance and as a fire escape, and don't build right up against your neighbour's land.

  7. 7

    Reasonable exceptions Anāpatti leṇe guhāya tiṇakuṭikāya aññassatthāya

    The non-offence clause says there is no offence in building a cave dwelling, a rock cave or a grass hut, building for someone else, or building anything other than a residence.

    Applying it in daily life

    Good rules should be strict about what has real impact. Small jobs that disturb no one need not go through an equally heavy process.

Try it in daily life

This story is an example of considering impact before building: the effect on the community's feelings, on animals living in the area, and on people who pass by or earn their living nearby.

What you can apply straight away: before extending your home, cutting down a large tree or starting a project in a shared space, talk to those affected, ask people who know, and choose the least disruptive option.

Asking the Saṅgha and the formal announcement are monastic discipline, and lay people need not follow that form. But deciding together and respecting what others revere are principles anyone can use.

Sign in to keep track of what you have read

Sources in the Tipiṭaka

Tap to read the actual passage on the page cited.

Other principles worth reading

Log in to earn 40 merit points for reading this page