Xct Mu Bi Pm Pc 101Standing Alone With Monk
Pāli / Sanskrit:Standing alone with monk
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Explanation of the Sutta: Standing Alone With a Bhikkhu
Background
This sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Pitaka, specifically among the rules concerning bhikkhunīs in the traditional Theravāda Pāli Canon. The background of the sutta arose from real events in the earliest community of Buddhist practice. When the Buddha was still alive, he established specific rules to protect the purity and qualities of the Sangha of monks and nuns.
These regulations did not arise from suspicion or discrimination, but from a deep understanding of the nature of the human mind, the conditions that occur in the world, and the hidden dangers that may arise in the process of practice. This sutta specifically concerns rules on communication and daily life among monastics, especially in situations that may give rise to misunderstanding or affect the reputation of the Sangha body.
Main Content
The sutta “Standing Alone With a Bhikkhu” deals with an important practical issue: personal interactions within the community of practice. The central point is to avoid situations that may create opportunities for gossip or misunderstanding from people outside the community.
According to the spirit of the Vinaya Pitaka, when two bhikkhus meet in a private or deserted place, this may create opportunities for slander or unnecessary suspicion from outsiders. Although the bhikkhus themselves may be entirely pure in intention and action, their appearance may be misunderstood.
Therefore, the sutta stipulates that a bhikkhu should not stand alone with another bhikkhu in secluded or deserted places. This rule is intended to protect the reputation of both parties, protect the community’s trust in the Sangha of monks and nuns, and indirectly protect the stable development of the Teaching.
🌏 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.