Lzh Mg Bu Pm Pc 69Lying Down With a Woman
Pāli / Sanskrit:Mātugāmasahaseyya
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COMMENTARY ON THE MĀTUGĀMASAHASEYYA
(The Discourse on Lying Down With a Woman)
Background
This rule is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically within the Bhikkhupātimokkha, in the chapter on Pācittiya—offenses requiring confession and expiation. These rules were established by the Buddha to protect the purity of the Saṅgha and to prevent conduct that could cause harm to the virtue and reputation of Buddhism.
This text originates from specific events in the early history of the Saṅgha, when certain bhikkhus had not yet proved fully trustworthy or had engaged in inappropriate behavior. The Buddha, with patience and wisdom, gradually established rules to guide his disciples along the path of practice.
Main Content
The Mātugāmasahaseyya rule prohibits bhikkhus from lying down together with a woman (or women) on the same sleeping place or surface, even when there is no ill intention. This is regarded as a Pācittiya—an offense less grave than violations such as Pārājika or Saṅghādisesa, yet one that still requires public confession before the Saṅgha and the performance of expiation.
The reason behind this rule is not only to avoid situations that could easily lead to more serious violations, but also to protect the reputation of Buddhism within the community. Even actions that appear harmless may be misunderstood or give rise to suspicion regarding the sensual desires of monastics, thereby undermining the faith of those who place their trust in the Saṅgha.
This rule applies to all women, regardless of age or relationship. It reflects a fundamental principle of the Vinaya Piṭaka: actions that may lead to greater violations should be prevented at the very first step. This is an expression of the heedfulness (appamāda) that the Buddha always emphasized.
Practical Significance
The deeper significance of this rule lies in the cultivation of self-restraint and the guarding of the sense faculties (indriyasamvara).
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