Lzh Sarv Bu Pm Pc 77Leaving Without Giving Consent

Exposition of the Chandaṁadatvāgamana Sutta

Background

The Chandaṁadatvāgamana Sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, which preserves the disciplinary and ethical rules for bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, monks and nuns. This code was compiled from the instructions of the Buddha Gotama in order to maintain purity, order, and harmony in the Sangha.

This sutta addresses a practical issue in the community of practice: the situation in which a member of the Sangha leaves the community without permission or without informing the other members. This is a violation of the spirit of discipline and of respect toward the shared community of practice.

The context in which this rule appeared reflects concrete situations in the history of the early Sangha, when bhikkhus sometimes left without informing anyone, causing anxiety, confusion, or even suspicion within the monastic body.

Main Content

The Chandaṁadatvāgamana Sutta stipulates that a bhikkhu must not leave the gathering place of the Sangha without consent (chanda) from the senior monks or from the community. The word “chandaṁ” (chanda) here means consent, approval, or at least notification; “adatvā” means “without giving,” indicating the absence of this permission; and “āgamana” refers to the act of going away.

This rule is intended to ensure that every member of the Sangha respects the communal structure and does not act merely according to personal preference. When someone wishes to leave, whether to go on alms-round, return to their homeland, or move elsewhere, they need to inform the elders or those responsible, so that no one is made anxious by a sudden absence.

Violation of this rule is considered an offense against the Pātimokkha restraint (Pātimokkha samvara), reflecting disrespect toward the Vinaya and toward the community of practice. Depending on the context and degree, it may lead to different disciplinary measures, from admonition to more serious penalties if the violation is repeated.