Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 81Concealed Places

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 81

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Blessed One was staying in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, at the city of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhunīs entered secluded and deserted places together with men. The laypeople saw this and were contemptuous: "These bhikkhunīs have no sense of shame; they commit impure conduct, yet outwardly claim to know the true Dharma. What kind of true Dharma is this? How can bhikkhunīs enter secluded and deserted places together with men, no different from prostitutes or wanton women!"

The bhikkhunīs heard of this, and among them were those of few desires and contentment who practiced the ascetic way, delighted in training in the precepts, and had a sense of shame. They reproached the group of six bhikkhunīs: "Why did you enter secluded and deserted places together with men?"

The bhikkhunīs came and reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One used this as a cause and condition to convene the assembly of bhikkhus and reprove the group of six bhikkhunīs:

"What you have done is wrong — it is not proper conduct, not the way of a śramaṇa, not pure conduct, not befitting behavior; it is something that should not be done. Group of six bhikkhunīs, why did you enter secluded and deserted places together with men?"

Having reproved the group of six bhikkhunīs with countless skillful means, the Blessed One said to the bhikkhus:

"This group of six bhikkhunīs is a field that grows many defiled seeds; they are the first to commit this offense. From this day forward, I shall establish a precept for the bhikkhunīs, for ten reasons, up to and including the purpose of causing the true Dharma to endure long."

The precept to be proclaimed should be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī enters a secluded and deserted place together with a man — pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Secluded and deserted place: a place concealed by trees, walls, fences, cloth, or other such things.

If a bhikkhunī enters a secluded and deserted place together with a man, she commits pācittiya. If there is a companion who is blind but not deaf, duṣkṛta. If deaf but not blind, also duṣkṛta. If she stands there, also duṣkṛta.

A bhikkhu: duṣkṛta. A śikṣamāṇā, a śrāmaṇera, a śrāmaṇerī: duṣkṛta. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if two bhikkhunīs go as companions, or an acquaintance goes as a companion, or another woman goes as a companion who is neither blind nor deaf; or if she passes through without stopping; or if she faints from illness; or if she is taken by force; or if she is bound; or in cases involving danger to life or danger to the religious life — in all these cases there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits an act before the rule has been established; one who is mentally deranged; one whose mind is disturbed; one who is afflicted by extreme pain.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. FOUR-PART VINAYA, PART ONE

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng

(Chinese translation, volumes 1–21; Vietnamese translation, volumes 1–2)

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002