Lzh Dg Bu Pm Pc 4Lying Down With a Woman
Pāli / Sanskrit:Mātugāmasahaseyya
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The Mātugāmasahaseyya Sutta (Lying Down With a Woman)
Background
The Mātugāmasahaseyya Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, the Vinaya section for bhikkhus, male renunciants. In the Vinaya Piṭaka, rules such as this are recorded to protect the practice of monastics and maintain the spiritual strength of the Sangha.
The background for the arising of this discourse comes from specific cases during the Buddha’s time. Some bhikkhus lay on the same bed with women, using the reason that they were caring for or protecting them. Although the motivation may have seemed proper, the Buddha saw that this action violated the spirit of renunciation and could easily lead to inappropriate situations. Therefore, the Buddha issued an unconditional prohibition.
This rule is part of the Pāṭimokkha, the basic list of prohibitions, specifically belonging to the Pācittiya or Pārājika categories, depending on historical context and differing translation traditions within Theravāda.
Main Content
The discourse clearly states that a bhikkhu must not lie on the same bed with a woman, even in circumstances he considers necessary or proper. This prohibition makes no distinction between young or old women, familiar or unfamiliar. The act of lying together itself, or more broadly, sleeping in the same place, violates the rule.
The reason the Buddha gave this rule is that such physical closeness will:
First, weaken the concentration (samādhi) and independent mind of the bhikkhu. Bodily contact easily arouses unwholesome thoughts, especially sensual desire (lobha).
Second, it causes a loss of trust among the Buddhist community (upāsakā, upāsikā). Even if the intention is pure, people will have suspicions, and the honor of the Sangha will be harmed.
Third, this action creates favorable conditions for violating more serious rules, because psychological barriers have been broken down.
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