Lzh Mi Bu Vb Pc 56Lying Down With a Woman

EXPLANATION OF THE MĀTUGĀMASAHASEYYA TEXT

(The Text on Lying Down With a Woman)

Background

The Mātugāmasahaseyya text is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the fundamental ethical rules for Buddhist monastics. This is one of the regulations concerning the pure conduct of bhikkhus, where the Buddha Gotama taught carefulness and self-restraint in every daily action.

This regulation was established after the Buddha witnessed situations that created suspicion among the Buddhist community, or acts that could lead to the decline of collectedness. In the Theravāda tradition, this reflects a basic principle: purity of conduct (sīla) is the foundation for all spiritual attainments.

Main Content

The Mātugāmasahaseyya rule concerns the conduct of a bhikkhu when lying down to sleep with a woman in the same enclosed space. According to the Pāli Vinaya texts, this is regarded as inappropriate for those who have gone forth, because it creates favorable conditions for the arising of desire (lobha) and acts that violate the training rules.

More specifically, this regulation emphasizes that a bhikkhu should not place himself in situations that may cause suspicion or loss of faith from the Buddhist community. Even when the act has no evil intention and does not end in sexual conduct, lying down with a woman is still considered inappropriate because it violates the principle of "not being intimate" (virahita), one of the foundations of self-restraint in conduct.

Violations related to this rule are usually classified into different degrees, depending on the specific circumstances. This reflects the wisdom of the Vinaya Piṭaka: it does not merely prohibit absolutely, but also guides ways to avoid temptation and falling into unworthy conduct.