Ten Roots of Disputes

‘Venerable Sir, why is it that arguments, conflict, contention, and disputes arise in The Community and Monks do not reside at ease?’

Here, Upāli,

(1) Monks explain non-Teachings as Teachings,

(2) and Teachings as non-Teachings.

(3) They explain non-discipline as discipline, and

(4) discipline as non-discipline.

(5) They explain what has not been stated and spoken by The Tathāgata as having been stated and spoken by him, and

(6) what has been stated and spoken by The Tathāgata as not having been stated and spoken by him.

(7) They explain what has not been practiced by The Tathāgata as having been practiced by him, and

(8) what has been practiced by The Tathāgata as not having been practiced by him.

(9) They explain what has not been prescribed by The Tathāgata as having been prescribed by him, and

(10) what has been prescribed by The Tathāgata as not having been prescribed by him.

This, Upāli, is why arguments, conflict, contention, and disputes arise in The Community and Monks do not reside at ease.

‘Venerable Sir, how many roots of disputes are there?’

There are, Upāli, ten roots of disputes.

What ten?

Here,

(1) Monks explain non-Teachings as Teachings,

(2) and Teachings as non-Teachings.

(3) They explain non-discipline as discipline, and

(4) discipline as non-discipline.

(5) They explain what has not been stated and spoken by The Tathāgata as having been stated and spoken by him, and

(6) what has been stated and spoken by The Tathāgata as not having been stated and spoken by him.

(7) They explain what has not been practiced by The Tathāgata as having been practiced by him, and

(8) what has been practiced by The Tathāgata as not having been practiced by him.

(9) They explain what has not been prescribed by The Tathāgata as having been prescribed by him, and

(10) what has been prescribed by The Tathāgata as not having been prescribed by him.

These, Upāli, are the ten roots of disputes.

(Reference: AN 10.41)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares the ten roots of disputes. Through individuals choosing to modify The Buddha’s Teachings based on what he did not teach, this will cause disputes in a Community of Practitioner.

The Path to Enlightenment includes multiple aspects of training to include, helping a Practitioner to train the mind to not argue through eliminating craving/desire/attachment and practicing Right Speech as The Buddha taught these Teachings.

If an individual were to change any aspect of The Teachings, Practitioners would not have the detailed, clear, concise, and precise Teachings of a Buddha that lead to training the mind to eliminate the pollution of the mind that leads to arguments, conflict, contention, and disputes in The Community and Practitioners do not reside at ease.

Conversely, if Practitioners maintain The Teachings of a Buddha and are guided to improve the condition of their mind and life by Enlightened beings, then, there are no arguments, conflict, contention, and disputes in The Community and Practitioners reside at ease.