Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Pc 65Lying Down With a Woman

Mātugāmasahaseyya Sutta (Lying Together with a Woman)

Background

The Mātugāmasahaseyya Sutta belongs to the Pātimokkha section of the Pāli Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically among the Pācittiya rules of the bhikkhunīs, the female monastics. It is one of the detailed rules intended to maintain discipline and purity within the Sangha, the monastic community.

The background from which this discourse arose concerns instances in which female monastics did not observe necessary boundaries in communal life. The Buddha, with profound wisdom, saw that maintaining clear boundaries between men and women was not only a matter of personal morality, but also served to protect the honor of the Dharma, build trust in the community, and create favorable conditions for the cultivation of the mind.

Main Content

This rule forbids female monastics from sleeping in the same place with lay women, called mātugāma, meaning "girls" or "women." If a female monastic lies on the same bed or in the same sleeping space with lay women without a legitimate reason, such as caring for the sick or other special circumstances, it is considered a violation of the rule.

This act is classified among the Pācittiya rules, offenses that require confession (pāyattika) before the Sangha. The purpose is not to impose bondage or unreasonably restrict personal freedom, but to maintain a high standard of discipline and avoid circumstances that may lead to confusion, loss in practice, or harm to the reputation of the monastic community.

Practical Meaning

The Mātugāmasahaseyya Sutta reflects a profound principle in the Vinaya Piṭaka: the practice of the holy life (Brahmacariya) does not stop at outward action, but must also protect environmental conditions. Female monastics not lying together with lay women means creating distance, protecting the mind from unwanted thoughts, and preserving the pure appearance of the renunciant.