Lzh Mg Bi Pm Ss 5Walking Alone to the Next Village
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ekagāmantara
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COMMENTARY ON THE EKAGĀMANTARA SUTTA
Walking Alone to the Next Village
Background
The Ekagāmantara Sutta (Pāli: eka = alone, gāmantara = the distance between villages) is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, in the Suttavibhaṅga section of the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, and reflects the rules of the early period of the Buddhist Sangha. This is a text directly concerned with the governance of the conduct of bhikkhunīs in their daily practice life, particularly when they travel between localities.
The historical context of the sutta records actual situations from the time when the Buddha was still present in the world. Bhikkhunīs frequently needed to travel between villages to seek alms (piṇḍapāta) or to fulfill their practice duties. Accordingly, the Buddha established specific rules to protect their safety, to maintain discipline, and to preserve the honor of the Sangha under such circumstances.
Main Content
The Ekagāmantara Sutta concerns regulations regarding whether a bhikkhunī is permitted to travel alone over the distance from one village to another. According to the Theravāda Vinaya tradition, bhikkhunīs should not travel alone without the consent of those in authority or of senior bhikkhunīs. This was not only for the sake of personal safety, but also to avoid misunderstandings arising from the lay community and situations that could bring harm to the reputation of the Sangha.
The sutta makes clear that traveling alone between villages is considered a breach of discipline if there is no legitimate reason or proper permission. Legitimate reasons may include the performance of an important duty for the Sangha, or particularly urgent circumstances. Nevertheless, the fundamental principle is that acting within community—with the witness and support of others—is regarded as the proper, safe, and fitting way to conduct oneself.
This rule reflects a deeper principle within the Vinaya: the importance of maintaining the purity and trustworthiness of the Sangha in the eyes of the surrounding society.
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