<p>What you're looking for is Vesali  sutta.
<a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn54/sn54.009.than.html" rel="noreferrer">vesali sutta</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Then the monks — [thinking,] "The Blessed One, with many lines of
  reasoning, has given a talk on the unattractiveness [of the body], has
  spoken in praise of [the perception of] unattractiveness, has spoken
  in praise of the development of [the perception of] unattractiveness"
  — remained committed to the development of [the perception of]
  unattractiveness in many modes &amp; manners. They — ashamed, repelled, &amp;
  disgusted with this body — sought for an assassin. In one day, ten
  monks took the knife. In one day, twenty monks took the knife. In one
  day, thirty monks took the knife.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Edit: I don't think the monks didn't misinterpret the teaching. Perhaps since they're still under training, their mind is not developed and overcome by disgust. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-29T19:45:20.430Z
[This described it as](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/ariyesako/layguide.html#murder), "The original story describes how some bhikkhus wrongly grasped the Buddha's meditation teaching on the loathsome aspects of the body and, falling into wrong view, committed suicide or asked someone to end their lives for them."
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-29T22:41:09.887Z
The commentary says that they were hunters in their past lives, and the Buddha, knowing they were doomed, gave them something that would at least lead them to be reborn in heaven. Apparently they all were.
yuttadhammo
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-09-29T19:12:21.437Z
2014-09-29T20:31:39.617Z
2014-09-29T20:31:39.617Z
Nyan
<p>There is a Buddhist story when some monks (or followers of the Buddha) misinterpret what the Buddha is saying and commit suicide. Does anyone know anymore details about the story and where it comes from? I think it is in the Pali Canon.  </p>

<texts><reference-request><suicide>
What is the story where some of the Buddha's followers commit suicide?
# What is the story where some of the Buddha's followers commit suicide?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-09-29)

There is a Buddhist story when some monks (or followers of the Buddha) misinterpret what the Buddha is saying and commit suicide. Does anyone know anymore details about the story and where it comes from? I think it is in the Pali Canon.

**Tags:** texts, reference-request, suicide


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-09-29. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

What you're looking for is Vesali sutta.
[vesali sutta](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn54/sn54.009.than.html)

> Then the monks — [thinking,] "The Blessed One, with many lines of
> reasoning, has given a talk on the unattractiveness [of the body], has
> spoken in praise of [the perception of] unattractiveness, has spoken
> in praise of the development of [the perception of] unattractiveness"
> — remained committed to the development of [the perception of]
> unattractiveness in many modes & manners. They — ashamed, repelled, &
> disgusted with this body — sought for an assassin. In one day, ten
> monks took the knife. In one day, twenty monks took the knife. In one
> day, thirty monks took the knife.

Edit: I don't think the monks didn't misinterpret the teaching. Perhaps since they're still under training, their mind is not developed and overcome by disgust.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: [This described it as](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/ariyesako/layguide.html#murder), "The original story describes how some bhikkhus wrongly grasped the Buddha's meditation teaching on the loathsome aspects of the body and, falling into wrong view, committed suicide or asked someone to end their lives for them."  
> **username_3**: The commentary says that they were hunters in their past lives, and the Buddha, knowing they were doomed, gave them something that would at least lead them to be reborn in heaven. Apparently they all were.  

---

