Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 25Sitting in Private

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA RULES

– EXPLAINING the fourth section of the NINETY-TWO SINGLE EXPIATION RULES.

25. RULE: SITTING WITH A BHIKKHUNĪ IN A SECLUDED PLACE.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, as described at length above, at that time the bhikkhunī Sujanā—who had formerly been the wife of the Venerable Udāyī—said to the Venerable Udāyī: "Tomorrow it will be my turn to receive a room; you may come so that we can speak together." Then, the following morning, while the bhikkhunīs had gone into the village on almsround, Udāyī went to the room of the bhikkhunī Sujanā, stretched out his legs, and sat with her in a secluded spot, close together in conversation, so that sensual desire arose, his male organ became erect, and they both gazed intently at it.

Suddenly an elderly bhikkhunī who was ill came out of her room, saw what was happening, felt ashamed, and returned to her room. She then reported the matter to the other bhikkhunīs. The bhikkhunīs rebuked the bhikkhunī Sujanā: "You are one who has gone forth—how could you do such an unlawful thing?

It is truly shameful!"

The bhikkhunī Sujanā became angry and said: "How strange! How strange! That is a bhikkhu who is close to me and who comes to visit me regularly. If I did not receive him pleasantly, who would do so? That is a matter of my own household; what is there to be surprised about?" Whenever the bhikkhunīs pressed her with questions, the bhikkhunī Sujanā—being gifted in argumentation—had a reply for every point. The bhikkhunīs then reported the matter to Mahāpajāpatī, and Mahāpajāpatī reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha then had Udāyī summoned. When he had come, the Buddha asked: "Is it true that you did this thing?"

—"It is true, Blessed One."

—"That is a bad thing. Have you not heard me praise the holy life by countless skillful means and censure sensual indulgence? Why did you do such a bad and unwholesome thing? This is against the Dhamma, against the Vinaya, contrary to my teaching, and cannot be used to nurture wholesome qualities."

Thereupon the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus dwelling in the city of Sāvatthī to assemble, and for the sake of ten benefits he laid down a rule for the bhikkhus, which all must hear again even if they have already heard it:

"If a bhikkhu sits alone with a bhikkhunī in a secluded, open place, he commits a Pācittiya offence."

Explanation

Alone: One bhikkhu sits with one bhikkhunī. Even if another person is present, if that person is insane and disordered, or is sleeping, or is a non-human being or an animal, then despite the presence of such beings, they are considered as there being no third person.

A secluded place: That is, a deserted, remote location.

Sits: The two sit together.

Pācittiya: As described above.

If a bhikkhunī invites a bhikkhu to receive a meal, and one bhikkhunī sits with one bhikkhu while another bhikkhunī comes and goes bringing food, then each time the serving bhikkhunī departs with the food, the bhikkhu commits one Pācittiya offence. If the bhikkhunī sits, the bhikkhu should stand up; however, he must not rise in silence in such a way as to cause the bhikkhunī to suspect that he intends to do something unlawful. Rather, he should say: "I wish to stand up." If the bhikkhunī asks, "Why are you standing up?" he should reply: "The Blessed One has laid down a rule that bhikkhus may not sit with bhikkhunīs." If the bhikkhunī says: "Venerable Sir, please remain seated; I will stand up," then at that point the bhikkhu may sit back down without incurring an offence.

Furthermore, if a bhikkhu sits together with a sāmaṇerī in the above-mentioned places—such as on an upper floor, along a path, on a plank, or on a sandal—then each time the sāmaṇerī moves to another spot and the bhikkhu moves after her, he commits one Pācittiya offence. Even if the sāmaṇerī is under seven years of age, the bhikkhu still commits a Pācittiya offence.

A bhikkhu who sits alone with a bhikkhunī in a secluded place commits a Pācittiya offence. (This point has already been stated above.)

In summary, if a bhikkhu sits alone with a bhikkhunī in a monastery whose door faces a road where people pass continuously without interruption; or if he sits in a place that is screened and not open, near rather than far, with one person rather than many, regardless of whether it is day or night—all such cases are as has been fully explained in the rule concerning "teaching the Dhamma to women" set out previously. Therefore it is stated (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHBHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FǍXIǍN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

VERIFICATION OF MEANING: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH