After rebuking those monks in many ways, they told the Buddha … “Is it true, monks, that you did this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them, “Foolish men, it’s not suitable, it’s not proper, it’s not worthy of a monastic, it’s not allowable, it’s not to be done. How could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling ‘If a monk intentionally kills a human being or seeks an instrument of death for them or praises death or incites someone to die, saying,

“My friend, what’s the point of this miserable and difficult life? Death is better for you than life!”—thinking and intending thus, if he praises death in many ways or incites someone to die—he too is expelled and excluded from the community.’”

Definitions A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case. Intentionally: knowing, perceiving, having intended, having decided, he transgresses. A human being: from the mind’s first appearance in the mother’s womb, from the first manifestation of consciousness, until the time of death: in between these—this is called “a human being”. Kills: cuts off the life faculty, brings it to an end, interrupts its continuation. Or seeks an instrument of death for them: a sword, a dagger, an arrow, a club, a rock, a knife, poison, or a rope. Or praises death: he shows the drawbacks of living and speaks in praise of death. Or incites someone to die: he says, “Kill yourself with a knife,” “Eat poison,” “Die by hanging yourself with a rope.” My friend: this is a form of address.