San Mg Bu Pm Ss 2Physical Contact
Pāli / Sanskrit:Kāyasaṁsagga
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The Scripture on Physical Contact (Kāyasaṁsagga)
Background
The Kāyasaṁsagga Scripture (Physical Contact) is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of Theravāda Buddhism. The Vinaya Piṭaka is a collection of disciplinary regulations for monks and nuns and of matters governing the monastic community. Unlike other collections that focus on theoretical Dharma (Abhidharma) or practical teachings (Suttas), the Vinaya Piṭaka is the foundation for communal life in the monastic community.
The Saṅghadisesa section (Saṅghe Patipucchavatthukkhandhaka), to which this scripture belongs, deals with violations of the discipline that require confession and resolution before the whole Sangha. Kāyasaṁsagga is directly concerned with bodily contact between forest-dwelling bhikkhus and women, a matter regarded as having the potential to lead to inappropriate conduct and to break the purity of the Sangha.
Main Content
Kāyasaṁsagga revolves around the principle of bodily restraint, especially avoiding unnecessary contact between male and female monastics. According to the traditional Vinaya Piṭaka, a bhikkhu should not actively engage in bodily contact (kāya-saṁsagga) with women, including forest-dwelling bhikkhunīs.
This scripture defines clearly that if a bhikkhu has direct bodily contact with a woman with a mind of sensual desire or with an improper purpose, this is a serious breach of the discipline. Even if there is no intention of sensual desire, bodily contact without cause is still regarded as inappropriate and as violating the spirit of practice.
This rule does not arise from wrong view or discrimination, but from a deep understanding of the human mind. The Buddha taught that bodily contact can easily arouse unpurified mental intentions and is the first step leading to actions that violate the discipline. Therefore, this rule is a “skill for guarding the mind” (indriya-samvara), intended to protect both parties in the life of study and practice.
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