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Early Schools · Comparative Canon · Comparative Vinaya — Sanskrit

San Mu Bu Pm GBM 3 Ss 2Physical Contact

Pāli / Sanskrit:Kāyasaṁsagga

📖284 words · ~1 min read
2

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Interpreted by Inti AI (English)
🪷 AI interpretation

Exposition of the Kāyasaṁsagga Sūtra (Physical Contact)

Background

The Kāyasaṁsagga Sūtra belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the Theravāda tradition of the Buddha Dharma, within the Pāli Canon. These are regulations related to the management of sexuality and physical actions between bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, as well as between monastics and laypeople.

The Vinaya Piṭaka was built upon the practical foundation of the early Buddhist Sangha when the Buddha was still alive. These regulations are not arbitrary prohibitions, but guidelines established on the basis of specific events, intended to protect virtuous conduct, preserve the Sangha, and support the field of practice. The Kāyasaṁsagga Sūtra addresses the matter of bodily contact (kāya = body, saṁsagga = contact), a sensitive area for those who have gone forth.

Main Content

This sūtra states that bhikkhus are not permitted to have inappropriate bodily contact with others, especially with women. Acts such as touching hands, embracing, or other forms of close contact are regarded as violations of mindfulness of the body (kāyasati) and may lead to adverse psychological and social consequences.

This regulation is built upon a basic principle of Theravāda Buddhism: avoiding things that stimulate sensual desire (kāmacchanda). In the Pātimokkha rules, violations related to Kāyasaṁsagga are classified according to their degree of seriousness. If the contact is unintentional, or even initiated by another person, the degree of responsibility is reduced. However, if a bhikkhu intentionally initiates contact with an improper intention, it is a significant violation.

The sūtra emphasizes that bhikkhus must be clearly aware (sampajañña) in all bodily activities and continue to maintain respect and self-restraint. This applies not only to direct contact, but also to indirect actions that may lead to inappropriate contact.

🌏Why is this sūtra summarized by Inti AI?

🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.

Translation source: Interpreted by AILicense: CC0-1.0 (Sujato) · personal-use (Minh Châu) · EN: AI translation from Vietnamese source, awaiting source English

Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.

🔗Parallel editions
Bu Ss 2 · 2. Physical contact with a womanVinaya Piṭaka — The Discipline BasketLzh Mg Bu Vb Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseLzh Dg Bu Vb Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseBu Ss 2 · 2. Physical contact with a womanVinaya Piṭaka — The Discipline BasketLzh Mg Bu Pm Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseSan Mu Bu Pm GBM 2 Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — SanskritUpp Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseXct Mu Bu Pm Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — TibetanLzh Mu Bu Vb Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseLzh Dg Bu Pm Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseKa Bu Pm Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseLzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — Chinese
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