Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Pc 119Giving Ordination to One Who Keeps Company of Men and Women
Pāli / Sanskrit:Giving ordination to one who keeps company of men and women
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Explanation of the Sutta: Giving Ordination to One Who Frequently Associates with Men and Women
Background
This text appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, the section prescribing disciplinary rules and rites of practice for the Sangha. During the Buddha’s lifetime, granting ordination was not a casual act but had to follow strict standards concerning the conduct and attitude of the person being accepted.
The background of the text is that the Buddha and the Blessed Ones prescribed that, when ordaining a person, their living circumstances must be carefully examined. In particular, if a person has the habit of frequently and freely associating with both men and women without a legitimate reason, such as close kinship, this may reflect an unstable moral foundation or an unclear intention to go forth. This rule is intended to protect both the Sangha and the person who wishes to go forth.
Main Content
According to the regulation of the Vinaya Piṭaka, one should not ordain a person who habitually associates frequently with both men and women, except under special circumstances. This requirement belongs to the Pāṭimokkha, the basic disciplinary rules, and is developed in detail in sections such as the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga in Pāli or corresponding materials.
The basic reason is this: a person with many social relationships, especially close connections with both sexes, may not yet be psychologically ready for the humble and settled life of the monastery. Moreover, such a situation may lead to complications concerning the honor of the Sangha or create difficulties for the practitioner.
This text is part of the regulations intended to protect and maintain the purity of the Sangha. It is not discrimination, but a prudent measure, reflecting a deep understanding of the path of practice and the factors that can obstruct spiritual progress.
Practical Meaning
For practicing monastic communities today, this text recalls the principle of heedfulness (appamāda) in receiving new disciples.
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