Mpt Pc 7Teaching Someone of the Opposite Gender Alone
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dhammadesanā
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
The Discourse on Teaching the Dharma to Someone of Another Gender (Dhammadesanā)
Background
In the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka consists of rules for training body, speech, and mind, laid down by the Buddha to protect our hearts and protect the Sangha. The rule concerning a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī teaching the Dharma to someone of another gender alone (Mpt Pc 7) is recorded in the Pātimokkha, the basic code of the Sangha.
The Buddha established this rule not because of fear of sin or distrust of his disciples, but because he understood clearly that human beings are always affected by currents of ignorant craving (taṇhā), especially sexual desire. Even those who have gone forth, if they are not careful, may allow this mental state to develop latently. Therefore, this rule is a wise preventive measure, helping protect the integrity of the practitioner.
Main Content
The rule states that a bhikkhu should not teach the Dharma (Dhammadesanā) to a woman alone, nor should a bhikkhunī teach the Dharma to a man alone, except in special circumstances. If teaching is necessary in such a situation, the teacher must maintain mindfulness (sati), clear awareness (sati-sampajaññā), and appropriate distance.
The term "Dhammadesanā" here is not merely speaking about abstract theories, but directly transmitting the Buddha's Dharma, an act rich in spiritual meaning. When a practitioner teaches, their mind must be free from imaginings, without expectation or seeking. For this reason, avoiding conditions that might cause the mind to lose focus is very important.
This rule also reflects a deep understanding of the nature of attachment (saṃyojana). When a young man and a young woman sit privately, especially in quiet spaces, unintended emotions may arise. Even if the original intention is noble, the environment can create conditions for the arising of unsuitable mental states.
🌏 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.
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.