Negligent Homicide

Original text from the First Section of the Sutra on the Five Precepts for Upasakas: If an upasaka, thinking it is his mother, kills someone who is not his mother, he commits an unpardonable offense, but it is not the heinous sin of matricide. If he strikes someone in jest and the person dies, this offense is pardonable. If he kills while insane and unaware of his actions, he is without offense.

Explanation: If an upasaka intends to kill his mother but mistakenly kills someone who is not his mother, he commits an unpardonable offense, yet it is not the heinous sin of matricide. The upasaka intended to kill his mother, but in reality, he killed a non-mother, thus he did not actually kill his mother and therefore does not commit the heinous sin. If he strikes someone playfully during jest and causes their death, it is accidental killing, constituting a pardonable offense. If he kills while insane, failing to recognize the other person, he is without offense, because there was no intent—no mind to kill.

Original text: If an upasaka uses water containing insects or kills insects within plants or grass, he commits an offense. If he uses it while thinking there are no insects when there are, he also commits an offense. If he uses it while thinking there are insects when there are none, he also commits an offense.

Explanation: If an upasaka uses water containing insects—whether drinking it, pouring it out, or irrigating land—resulting in the death of insects, or directly kills insects within plants or grass, he commits the offense of killing. If he knowingly uses water containing insects but deceives himself into thinking there are none, he still commits the offense of killing. If there are no insects in the water, yet he falsely believes there are and still uses the water, he also commits the offense of killing, because he possesses the intent to kill.

When there are clearly no insects in the water, yet one insists on imagining insects present and proceeds to drink or use that water, he violates the precept. Why do this? There are no insects, and no actual killing occurs, so why is using the water considered a violation of the killing precept? Because the mind is impure, harboring the intent to kill. In some cases, water may indeed contain insects unknown to the user, and if insects die as a result, it is not considered a violation of the precept. This is because there is no intent to kill, the life of the insects is not considered weighty, and without deliberate intent, no offense is committed.

Original text: An upasaka was building a new house and stood on the roof. A beam slipped from his hand, fell onto a carpenter’s head, and killed him instantly. The upasaka became doubtful: "Is this offense pardonable?" He asked the Buddha. The Buddha said, "No offense." The beam on the roof—human strength being insufficient to hold it—fell and killed the carpenter. The upasaka then became doubtful. The Buddha said, "No offense. From this day forward, act with careful attention; do not cause death."

Explanation: An upasaka was constructing a new house and sat on the roof. A beam slipped from his hand, fell, struck a carpenter on the head, and killed him. Unsure whether this act of killing constituted a pardonable offense, the upasaka asked the Buddha. The Buddha said: "You are without offense."

While building the new house, due to insufficient human strength to support the beam, a roof beam fell, struck the carpenter on the head, and killed him. The upasaka, uncertain of his culpability, was told by the Buddha: "You are without offense, but henceforth, act with greater care and attention to avoid accidentally killing others."

Original text: Another upasaka was working on a roof when he saw a scorpion in the mud. Frightened, he jumped down and fell onto a carpenter, killing him instantly. The upasaka became doubtful. The Buddha said, "No offense. From this day forward, act with careful attention; do not cause death." Another upasaka entered a dangerous path at dusk and encountered bandits. The bandits tried to seize him. Fleeing the bandits, he fell off a bank onto a weaver below, killing the weaver instantly. The upasaka became doubtful. The Buddha said, "No offense."

Explanation: Another upasaka was working on a roof when he saw a scorpion in the mud. Terrified, he jumped from the roof, landed on a carpenter, and killed him. Uncertain of his offense, the upasaka was told by the Buddha: "You are without offense. From this day forward, act prudently and attentively; do not accidentally kill others."

Another upasaka walked along a dangerous path after dark and encountered bandits. The bandits attempted to capture him. Evading them, the upasaka ran and accidentally fell off an embankment onto a weaver below, killing the weaver instantly. Uncertain of his offense, the upasaka was told by the Buddha: "You are without offense."

Original text: Another upasaka pushed a stone down a mountain, and the stone killed someone below. He became doubtful. The Buddha said, "No offense. But when intending to push a stone, you should first shout a warning that a stone is coming down, so people will know." Another case: A person had a boil that was not yet ripe. The upasaka lanced it, and the person died. He became doubtful. The Buddha said, "If a boil is immature and lancing causes death, this is a middling, pardonable offense. If a ripe boil is lanced and the person dies, there is no offense."

Explanation: Another upasaka pushed a stone down a mountain; the stone rolled down and killed a person. Uncertain of his offense, the upasaka was told by the Buddha: "You are without offense. But henceforth, when pushing stones, you should first shout a warning, informing others that a stone is about to roll down, so they may be aware."

A sick person had a skin ulcer—a malignant boil that had not yet matured. The upasaka lanced it, causing the patient’s death. Uncertain of his offense, the upasaka was told by the Buddha: "If an immature boil is lanced and causes death, this constitutes a middling, pardonable offense. If a mature boil is lanced and the person dies, there is no offense."