Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 122Not Departing With Disciple
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sahajīvinī-avūpakāsana
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Explanation of the Sahajīvinī-avūpakāsana Sutta
Not Abandoning a Disciple Living Together
Background
This sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon and reflects rules for communal monastic life in the early Buddhist Sangha. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of rules established by the Buddha or by the Sangha to protect the healthy development of the community of those gone forth. The sutta “Sahajīvinī-avūpakāsana,” not abandoning a disciple living together, concerns an important disciplinary issue: the relationship between teacher (ācariya) and disciple, especially the responsibility of the teacher when acting independently, abandoning, or separating from a disciple who is living together.
The historical context shows that the Buddha established principles to protect young monastics, especially those still immature in the Dharma, from negligence or injustice. This rule reflects the Buddhist philosophy of the ethical responsibility of those who hold positions of leadership and seniority in the community.
Main Content
This sutta concerns disciplinary situations related to a teacher not being permitted to abandon or isolate a disciple living together (sahajīvin) without a valid reason or without prior notice. The term “sahajīvinī” means living together and refers to bhikkhunīs or bhikkhus practicing under the guidance and protection of a teacher.
Specifically, the sutta forbids teachers from arbitrarily abandoning responsibility toward disciples who are not yet capable of independence. The act of “avūpakāsana,” not abandoning or not separating, is a binding ethical principle. If a teacher intends to leave or stop guiding a disciple, there must be valid reasons, such as the disciple being disobedient, not devoted to practice, or having violated the rules of Dharma. Moreover, the teacher must try to transfer responsibility to another capable monastic.
This rule also protects the rights of the disciple against contempt or abandonment by those responsible for guiding them.
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