Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Pc 4Lying Down With a Woman
Pāli / Sanskrit:Mātugāmasahaseyya
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Exposition of the Mātugāmasahaseyya Sutta (Lying Down with a Woman)
Context
The Mātugāmasahaseyya Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha-Dharma. This is the section regulating prohibitions in the religious life of bhikkhus, male renunciants who follow the Buddha’s teaching.
In the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka, these rules were established not because the action in itself is evil, but because it contains dangers that may lead to spiritual decline in practice. Buddhist discipline (Vinaya) is built on the principle of protecting purity of mind and maintaining the noble qualities of the Sangha. These prohibitions also reflect the Buddha’s profound understanding of the factors that can obstruct the moral conduct of renunciants.
Main Content
The Mātugāmasahaseyya Sutta concerns the rule prohibiting bhikkhus from lying down or sleeping with women. The word “mātugāma” means woman, and “sahaseyya” means sharing a sleeping place or sleeping together. This includes not only sleeping in the same bed, but also other situations that may lead to improper bodily closeness between a male bhikkhu and a woman.
This rule belongs to the Pācittiya category, offenses which, if violated, require the bhikkhu to confess and repent before the Sangha. This rule is not a major precept leading to expulsion or the destruction of bhikkhu ordination, but it is considered very important because it protects purity of mind.
The deeper reason for this rule lies in the recognition that bodily closeness can arouse sensual desire, thereby dissolving the concentration (samādhi) and wisdom (paññā) that bhikkhus cultivate through meditation and study of the Dharma. Moreover, if any misunderstanding or criticism arises from the community, the reputation of the renunciant and of the Sangha will also be affected.
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