San Mg Bu Pm Pc 70Sitting in Private

The Rahonisajja Sutta: Sitting Alone

Background

The Rahonisajja Sutta (Sitting in Private) is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pācittiya section, offenses requiring confession, within the code for monastics. This is one of the rules governing conduct, intended to protect the purity and reputation of the Sangha in the relationship between bhikkhus and women.

This background reflects the early period of Buddhism, when the Buddha and his disciples were building the Sangha community. The Vinaya Piṭaka is not a collection of suttas expounding legal theory, but practical rules that help maintain discipline, trust from ordinary society, and the best conditions for practice.

Rahonisajja means “sitting alone in a private place,” a situation arising between monastics in daily interactions. This rule is not based on any inherent sinfulness, but exists to prevent suspicion and protect good reputation.

Main Content

The Rahonisajja Sutta stipulates that bhikkhus should not sit privately, alone, with women, especially women who are not close blood relatives. If a bhikkhu violates this rule, even if no wrongful action occurs, it is still considered a Pācittiya offense, a violation requiring confession.

This certainly does not forbid bhikkhus from having dealings with women. Rather, it encourages carefulness and dignity: meetings should take place in public, or at least in the presence of a third person. If a bhikkhu needs to meet with women for the purpose of teaching the Buddha-Dharma or for matters of practice, a third person should be present nearby.

This rule also applies in the reverse direction: bhikkhunīs are likewise warned not to sit privately with male bhikkhus. The central purpose is to protect both sides from unnecessary suspicion by the community, as well as to avoid feelings that might arise from excessive familiarity.