Lzh Mg Bi Pm Pc 130Getting Laywomen to Massage

Commentary on the Gihinī-ummaddāpana

Background

This text is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically within the section on Pātimokkha Samvara (the fundamental precepts) pertaining to the welfare of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. It is one of the detailed regulations that the Buddha established to protect the purity of the Sangha and to uphold ethical conduct in the relations between monastics and the lay community.

The historical context of this regulation arises from practical necessity. In ancient Indian society, a man allowing a woman — particularly one who was not a relative — to massage or rub his body was an act that carried implicit meaning or could lead to improper intimacy. The Buddha, with his profound understanding of human nature, recognized that such interactions could become an obstacle to the mindfulness and purity of one engaged in the monastic life, and thus established specific restrictions.

Main Content

The Gihinī-ummaddāpana stipulates that a bhikkhu should not permit laywomen (gihinī) — whether girls or women — to massage or rub his body. Should a bhikkhu transgress this regulation, it is regarded as an offense against the rule (sekhiya dhamma), belonging to the category of training rules (sikkhā padā) intended to contribute to the cultivation of mind and conduct.

This prohibition is not because massage or medical treatment is inherently unwholesome, but because it has the potential to disturb mindfulness (sati), particularly in the context of close proximity to women. For one engaged in the monastic life, it is of great importance to maintain an appropriate distance and to avoid situations that could give rise to sensual desire (kāma-dhamma).

Nevertheless, the Vinaya Piṭaka also provides for practical exceptions. If a bhikkhu is ill or in need of treatment, bhikkhunīs or laywomen who are close relatives may still offer assistance under certain conditions specified within the Vinaya.