Lzh Mu Bi Pm Pc 95Departing Without Taking Leave
Pāli / Sanskrit:Anāpucchāpakkamana
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The Sutta on Leaving Without Asking Permission
Background
This rule is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pacittiya section, the offenses for which a bhikkhu who commits them undergoes pacitti. It is one of the disciplinary rules intended to protect harmony in the Sangha, as well as to nurture spiritual restraint and respect in the community of practice.
The background arose from specific cases in the Buddha’s time, when bhikkhus left a monastery or temple without informing or asking permission from a representative of the Sangha. This caused inconveniences: communal tasks were left undone, study sessions were interrupted, or even teachers became worried about the safety of disciples. Therefore, the Buddha set forth this rule to regulate conduct.
Main Content
The rule of anāpucchāpakkamana, leaving without asking permission, provides that a bhikkhu may not leave the gathering place of the Sangha or a long-term residence without asking permission from another trustworthy bhikkhu. “Asking permission” here means informing another bhikkhu, or at least a bhikkhunī, that one is about to depart, so that they may prepare or offer assistance if needed.
Leaving suddenly, especially when communal work needs to be done or when it is an important time for the community, is regarded as conduct unsuitable for the way of a bhikkhu. If a bhikkhu does this, he must confess the fault and undergo pacitti before the Sangha in serious cases, or in lighter situations may only need to apologize privately.
However, this rule is not applied with complete rigidity. If a bhikkhu leaves for an urgent and legitimate reason or because of illness, that is not considered a violation. The purpose of the rule is to encourage mutual respect, responsibility toward the community, and transparency in communication.
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