Criminology Based on Buddhism Approach

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the concepts of wrongdoing and punishment in the Vinaya through the lens of criminological theory. The study found that Buddhist criminology serves as a social control system for the monastic community, encompassing elements such as crime prevention through the establishment of precepts to instill shame and fear of sin (hiri-ottappa), the justice process through the investigation and adjudication of offenses, and the treatment of offenders through penalties called offenses (pātimokkha), which are categorized into three levels: serious offenses (parajika), which are irreversible and result in expulsion from the monkhood; medium offenses (sanghādisesa), which can be remedied through probation; and minor offenses (dukkaṭa), which can be corrected through confession. A key finding is that the Vinaya is not merely a system of punishment but a preventive and rehabilitative mechanism aimed at preserving the purity of the monastic community and providing opportunities for offenders to reform, reflecting deep criminological principles within Buddhism.