Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Pc 43Sitting in a Concealed Place
Pāli / Sanskrit:Rahopaṭicchanna
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THE RAHOPAṬICCHANNA SUTTA (Sitting in a Concealed Place)
Background
Rahopaṭicchanna (raho = private, secluded; paṭicchanna = covered, hidden) is a rule in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically within the Pātimokkha, the basic code for Buddhist monks and nuns of the Theravāda tradition. This rule is recorded in the Vinaya collections of various schools, and in the Sarvāstivāda tradition it is classified among higher offenses connected with improper conduct.
Historically, this rule was laid down by the Buddha to protect the honor of the Sangha and prevent conduct that could damage the community’s trust. In particular, it concerns a monk or nun not sitting or staying alone in concealed places with someone of the opposite sex, because this may cause misunderstandings or fuel unnecessary suspicions.
Main Content
The Rahopaṭicchanna rule prohibits monastics from intentionally sitting in covered or hidden places with someone of the opposite sex without a third person witnessing or clearly knowing about it. This is not simply a bodily prohibition, but a principle of moral and aesthetic education, intended to maintain purity in the actions, speech, and thoughts of the practitioner.
More deeply, this rule reflects the principle of sīla in Buddhism, which concerns not only what one does, but also what others see or believe one is doing. This relates directly to the notion of Saṅghabheda, division in the Sangha, meaning activities that can harm unity and trust in the monastic community.
In the Vinaya context, violation of this rule is often considered relatively serious, requiring public confession and renewed practice. The degree of offense depends on the intention (cetanā) of the practitioner, whether the violation was deliberate or merely inadvertent.
Practical Meaning
The Rahopaṭicchanna rule is not merely a prohibition or a restriction of personal freedom.
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