Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 120Sitting in Private

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS OF THE BHIKKHUNĪ

– ELUCIDATION OF THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀCITTIYAS

120. PRECEPT: SITTING WITH A BHIKKHU IN A SECLUDED PLACE.

When the Buddha was residing at Vesālī, the former wife of Udāyin, the bhikkhunī Sujātā, said to him: "Venerable Sir, tomorrow I am keeping watch over the room; you may come to visit." At that time, all the bhikkhunīs had gone into the village on alms round, and Udāyin, having put on his robe and taken his bowl, went to the bhikkhunīs' monastery. The two of them then sat crouching in the back room, exposing their genitals, and gazing at one another with minds full of lustful desire.

At that moment, an elderly, ailing bhikkhunī came out of her room to relieve herself, saw what was happening, felt great shame, and quickly passed by. She then reported the matter to Mahāpajāpatī. In the end, the Buddha had that bhikkhunī summoned.

When she arrived, the Buddha rebuked her: "That is a wrongful act" — (and so on) — even those who have already heard it must hear it again:

—If a bhikkhunī sits alone with a bhikkhu in a secluded place, she commits a pācittiya offence.

EXPLANATION:

Alone: There is only one bhikkhu and no one else present. Even if there is a person, but that person is asleep, or drunk, or deranged, or mentally ill, or a small child who is crying, or a non-human being, or an animal, it is likewise regarded as being alone.

Secluded place: A concealed, deserted place where no one is present.

Sitting: If they sit together, a pācittiya offence is committed.

Pācittiya: As explained above. If a bhikkhunī sits with a bhikkhu for the entire day, she commits one pācittiya offence. If she rises partway through and then sits down again, each time she sits she commits one pācittiya offence.

If a bhikkhunī is sitting alone in a room and a bhikkhu unexpectedly arrives and enters and sits down, the bhikkhunī should quickly rise. But before rising, she should first give notice so as not to startle the bhikkhu. If the bhikkhu asks, "Why are you standing up?" she should reply: "Because the Blessed One has laid down a precept that does not permit me to sit alone with a bhikkhu."

If one sits alone with a male child under seven years of age, an offence is also committed. So what is the duration of sitting that constitutes the offence? — The duration is equivalent to the moment of time it takes to serve food to one who has gone forth. However, if a lay attendant is coming and going without interruption, then sitting there is without offence.

Or if the door of the room faces outward toward a road on which people are passing without interruption, there is likewise no offence. Conversely, if those passing by do so with interruption, a pācittiya offence is committed. If the lay attendant is asleep, one must snap one's fingers to wake them.

If one is on an upper floor while someone below can see, or one is on a lower floor while someone above can see, and three people can see one another continuously, there is no offence.

There are further cases: seeing but not hearing; or hearing but not seeing; both seeing and hearing; and neither hearing nor seeing.

Seeing but not hearing: From a distance, one sees a bhikkhu sitting with a bhikkhunī but does not hear their voices.

Hearing but not seeing: One hears voices but does not see them.

The latter two cases are similarly understood. If one sees but does not hear, a vinaya transgression offence is committed. If one hears but does not see, a vinaya transgression offence is also committed. If one both sees and hears, there is no offence. If one neither sees nor hears, a pācittiya offence is committed.

This offence encompasses the following cases: in a village; in the wilderness; during the day; during the night; at a proper time; at an improper time; in a concealed place and not in an open place; with one person and not with many persons; in close proximity and not at a great distance. Therefore the Blessed One has spoken as above.

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: THE TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH THE ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỔNG MINH