The Crime of Homicide through Reckless Play

Section One of the Sutra on the Five Precepts for Upāsakas, Original Text:

Also, there was a child who liked to laugh. A householder caught and tickled him. Because he was made to laugh excessively, he died. The householder became doubtful [about his culpability]. The Buddha said: "Because it was done in play and jest, he does not commit the offense of killing. From now on, he should not tickle people to make them laugh."

Also, a man was sitting covered with his own garment. A householder called to him, saying, 'Get up.' The man said, 'Do not call me to rise; if I rise, I will die.' [The householder] called again, saying, 'Get up.' Upon rising, he died immediately. The householder became doubtful. The Buddha said: "He commits a middling offense entailing penance. Had the man died when you gave him medicinal liquid, you would have committed an offense entailing expulsion."

Explanation:

Also, there was a child who liked to laugh. A householder caught him and tickled him, causing the child to die from excessive laughter. The householder did not understand what offense he had committed. The Buddha said to him: "Because this was done in playful jest, you do not commit the offense of killing. From now on, you should not tickle people to make them laugh."

There was a man sitting covered with his garment. A householder called to him to rise. The man said: "Do not call me to rise; if I rise, I will die." The householder called him to rise again. Upon rising, the man died. The householder did not understand what offense he had committed. The Buddha said to him: "You commit a middling offense entailing penance. Had he died when you gave him medicinal liquid, you would have committed an offense entailing expulsion."

Committing an offense entailing penance occurs when one kills another unintentionally or by mistake. Committing an offense entailing expulsion occurs when one kills intentionally, with the mind to kill.

Committing an offense entailing penance: Because there is no intent to kill, the mind is not evil; it is not defiled. The inherent offense (inherent offense) is light, and the karmic offense (karmic offense) is also light. Through repentance, the inherent offense and karmic retribution can be lessened or eradicated, thereby avoiding the karmic retribution of hell.

Committing an offense entailing expulsion: Because there is a subjective intent to kill, the mind is evil; the inherent offense is grave, and the karmic offense is also grave. Due to the obscuration by mental afflictions, even through repentance, the inherent offense cannot be eradicated; the karmic offense cannot be lessened, and the retribution of hell is unavoidable.

The gravity of all karmic offenses is determined by the mind.