Lzh Dg Bi Pm Pc 90Lying on the Same Bed

The Sutta on Lying on the Same Bed

Background

This sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma, specifically in the Pātimokkha section, the basic code that bhikkhus must observe. It is recorded in the Pācittiya section (Pārājika or Nissaggiya Pācittiya), that is, offenses that must be confessed, with the purpose of protecting the spirit of practice and maintaining the purity of the Sangha.

Ekamañcatuvaṭṭana, “lying on the same bed,” reflects one of the detailed regulations intended to preserve discipline and respect in the bhikkhu community. These are not rules imposed arbitrarily; they arise from specific events. When the Buddha saw situations that violated ethics, he established corresponding rules to guide his disciples.

Main Content

The specific content of this sutta has not been fully translated in the available materials. However, according to the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, the rule concerning lying on the same bed among bhikkhus is meant to prevent improper conduct and protect the honor of the Sangha.

In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka gives detailed regulations on communal living, behavior among members in the monastery, and rules concerning living spaces. These regulations come from practical realities: when bhikkhus live together in a community, physical and emotional contact can become obstacles to the practice of collectedness and purity.

The rules in the Pātimokkha are not harsh prohibitions, but guidelines that help bhikkhus avoid circumstances likely to lead to faults. This is a “preventive” method: avoiding in advance situations dangerous to one’s virtue.

Practical Meaning

The deeper purpose of such regulations is to train purity of mind, voluntary discipline, and diligence in practice. When a bhikkhu observes these detailed rules, he is not only conforming outwardly, but is educating himself in self-mastery, mindfulness, and wisdom.