Lzh Mg Bu Vb Pc 54Sitting in a Concealed Place

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA RULES

– CLEAR EXPLANATION OF THE SIXTH SECTION OF THE 92 SINGLE EXPIATION RULES.

54. RULE: SITTING IN THE BEDROOM OF A LAY SUPPORTER'S HOUSE.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, as described in full above. At that time, the Venerable Udāyin had a Brahmin friend who lived in the same village. This Brahmin's daughter had married into another village.

She sent word to her father: "Father, please come to visit me often. If you cannot come yourself, then please ask Venerable Udāyin to come and visit me often," as has already been explained in the two Aniyata rules above — (up to the point where) the Buddha said to Udāyin: "That is improper behavior. Even lay people know the rules of conduct for a samaṇa; you are one who has gone forth — how is it that you do not know where it is appropriate to sit and where it is not?

This is conduct that is contrary to the Dharma, contrary to the Vinaya, contrary to my teaching, and cannot be used to nurture wholesome states." Thereupon the Buddha commanded all the bhikkhus residing in the city of Sāvatthī to assemble together, and for the sake of ten benefits he laid down the following rule for the bhikkhus — even those who have already heard it must hear it again:

—If a bhikkhu, knowing it to be a "place of sexual activity in a lay supporter's house," sits there, he commits a Pācittiya offense. If a bhikkhu, knowing it to be a concealed place in a lay supporter's house, sits there, he commits a Pācittiya offense.

Explanation

Bhikkhu: As explained above.

Knowing: Either knowing by oneself, or knowing through having heard it from another.

Food (substance of nourishment): This includes: rice, barley, fish, meat, and such things — these are called food. There is also another kind of food: when eye-consciousness sees a form and gives rise to attachment and clinging; and so too with ear, nose, tongue, and body. There is yet another kind of food: a pot takes its lid as food; a mortar takes its pestle as food; a bushel takes its peck-measure as food — all such cases are called food. There is still another kind of food: a man is food for a woman; a woman is food for a man.

House: The house of a Brahmin, Kṣatriya, Vaiśya, or Śūdra.

Place of sexual activity: The place where husband and wife engage in intimacy.

Sitting: Sitting together in the same place constitutes a Pācittiya offense.

Concealed place: A place where a man and woman may engage in sexual activity without feeling shame. There are also other kinds of concealed places, such as: a dark place, or a place where the door has been closed.

([In the original text the three terms 'bhikkhu,' 'knowing,' and 'sitting' are each explained twice; here they are translated only once.]

Pācittiya: As explained above.

If a bhikkhu sits together with a married couple, he commits one Pācittiya offense. If another bhikkhu looking from a distance cannot see them, he commits two Pācittiya offenses. If he sits in a place used for sexual activity, or in a concealed place, or in a room with the door closed, and a bhikkhu looking from a distance cannot see him, he commits two Pācittiya offenses. If a bhikkhu looking from outside can see him, he commits one Pācittiya offense.

If a bhikkhu sits together (with the couple) inside the house, and in the middle of the courtyard there is a pile of sugarcane obstructing the view, or a pile of grain obstructing the view, or a wall obstructing the view — the ruling is likewise. However, if there is a fellow bhikkhu present, there is no offense. But even if there are many lay companions present, there is still an offense — (except in the case where) all those sitting there are male, in which case there is no offense. Or if all those present are female, there is likewise no offense. Therefore it is said (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: THE TRIPIṬAKA MASTER BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

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

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỔNG MINH