Lzh Mu Bi Pm Pc 60Leaving Without Giving Consent

Discourse on Leaving Without Permission

Chandaṁadatvāgamana

Background

This passage is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pācittiya section of the training rules for the Sangha. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the foundation of Buddhist practice in Theravāda, recording the rules of conduct established by the Buddha to protect harmony, discipline, and the spiritual development of the Sangha.

The background for this discourse concerns specific situations in which monastics left the monastery or community without informing or seeking permission from those responsible. Such actions, though they may seem minor, reflect lack of respect, lack of ardor in practice, and may cause anxiety or difficulty for the community. Therefore, the Buddha established a rule to encourage transparency, responsibility, and mutual respect within the Sangha.

Main Content

Chandaṁadatvāgamana, roughly translated as “leaving without permission” or “departing before being permitted,” states that a monastic should not leave a common dwelling place (vihāra) or a group of the Sangha without informing or seeking permission from fellow practitioners or those who manage the community. If the monastic leaves without doing this, he commits a Pācittiya offense, a fault lighter than those belonging to Pārājika or Saṅghādisesa, but still requiring confession before the Sangha.

This rule is not intended to restrict personal freedom, but rather emphasizes the importance of unity, coordination, and mutual respect. A monastic has the responsibility to act with the awareness that his actions affect the common community. Giving notice is an expression of ardor: respect for the Dharma, for the Sangha, and for oneself as a practitioner.

Practical Meaning

The spirit of this rule goes far beyond a matter of administration or control.