Lzh Mi Bi Vb Pc 77Standing Alone With Monk

EXPLANATION OF THE DISCOURSE: WHAT IT MEANS TO STAND ALONE WITH A BHIKKHU

Background

This discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda tradition, specifically the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the detailed regulations on the practice of bhikkhunīs. Although the title mentions "bhikkhu," the content lies in the bhikkhunī rules, reflecting the historical context in which the Buddha established the order of female monastics.

The Vinaya Piṭaka is not a doctrinal discourse, but a code of life intended to preserve concentration, an undistracted mind, and support for the practice of Dharma. Each regulation (sikkhāpada) has an origin story, the content of the rule, and exceptional cases. The discourse "Standing Alone with a Bhikkhu" concerns unsuitable conduct between male bhikkhus and female monastics when alone, thereby setting forth norms that protect purity of mind and the reputation of the Sangha.

Main Content

The specific content of this discourse has not been fully translated in the available materials. Nevertheless, according to the context of the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, this discourse teaches rules to be observed when a female monastic stands or sits alone with a male bhikkhu in enclosed or sparsely populated spaces.

The Buddha established these rules not from a mind of suspicion or restriction, but to protect the spirit of practice. A practitioner must preserve three foundations: concentration (samādhi), wisdom (paññā), and liberation (vimutti). When two people of different genders remain alone together for a long time or frequently, sensual conduct or sensual imagining may arise, obstructing diligent practice and harming the reputation of the Sangha in the eyes of laypeople.

This rule also expresses the lifestyle of almsround (piṇḍapāta) and highly disciplined daily activities. A female monastic should not seek excuses or favorable circumstances to maintain unnecessary contact, even from a wish to study the Dharma or exchange the true Dharma.