Lzh Sarv Bi Pm Pc 88Lying on the Same Sheet
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ekattharaṇatuvaṭṭana
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
EXPLANATION OF THE SUTTA: LYING TOGETHER ON ONE MAT
Background
This sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the basic code that bhikkhus must maintain every day. It is one of the regulations connected with the humble way of life and inner discipline of the Buddhist Sangha.
This rule (Ekattharaṇatuvaṭṭana) concerns physical conduct in the daily life of bhikkhus, specifically lying together on the same mat, blanket, or sleeping place. The Vinaya Piṭaka records these rules not to create difficulty, but to protect purity, mutual respect, and especially to prevent any suspicion that might arise concerning unworthy conduct.
Main Content
According to the Pātimokkha, bhikkhus are not permitted to lie together on the same mat (ekattharaṇa) with other men or women, except in specially permitted cases, such as illness or emergencies. This is a Pācittiya, a type of fault requiring confession, classified according to the degree of violation in the Vinaya system.
The reason for this rule goes back to the Buddha Śākyamuni. When bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, or lay people, lived too closely together in shared spaces, this could not only lead to wrongful acts, such as falling into sexual conduct, but also create suspicions and rumors in the community, diminishing the faith of other practitioners.
Moreover, maintaining distance in daily living also expresses respect and modest purity. Bhikkhus vow to leave the world behind in order to cultivate the Noble Path; therefore, self-aware restraint in conduct is an expression of reverence for the Buddha’s teaching.
Practical Meaning
This rule teaches us the importance of self-restraint (saṃvara), not self-restraint forced from outside, but arising from a deep understanding of the cause and effect of karma.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.