Xct Mu Bi Pm Pc 118Getting Laywomen to Massage

Gihinī-ummaddāpana Sutta: The Matter of Massage by Laywomen

Background

This disciplinary passage is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha of the Bhikkhunī Sangha, recorded in the Theravāda tradition. It reflects the detailed regulations established by the Buddha to maintain discipline and prevent situations that might offend moral conduct or create misunderstandings in society.

The context of this Pātimokkha rule arose when incidents occurred involving nuns or bhikkhunīs taking part in massage activities with laywomen. In the society of the Buddha’s time, this could create misunderstandings or cause discomfort for the parties involved. Therefore, the Buddha laid down a rule to prevent such cases, protecting the reputation and independence of the Sangha as well as the respect of lay followers.

Main Content

This rule prohibits female monastics (bhikkhunīs) from requesting or permitting laywomen (gihinī) to massage them. Specifically, if a nun asks a laywoman to massage her, or if the nun herself performs rubbing or massage without a legitimate medical reason, that is an act of transgression.

The reason for establishing this rule is not merely to protect formal discipline. Rather, the Buddha saw that such actions could lead to unnecessary bodily closeness between monastics and laypeople, which might arouse unwholesome states of mind (akusala-citta). Moreover, asking laypeople to perform such tasks could be misunderstood as a monastic’s abusing religious authority for personal service, contrary to the principles of humble living (appamāda) and freedom from seeking gain (anattasiṅsa).

This rule is classified in the Pātimokkha as either a Pācittiya, an offense requiring public confession, or a Sekhiya, a training rule, depending on the details of the specific action.