Xct Mu Bi Pc 50Lying Down With a Woman
Pāli / Sanskrit:Mātugāmasahaseyya
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The Mātugāmasahaseyya Discourse (Lying Down With a Woman)
Background
The Mātugāmasahaseyya discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, regulating conduct related to the management of the body and relations between the sexes for bhikkhus. In the early Buddhist tradition, these rules are regarded as standards protecting purity of mind and action, especially within the context of the monastic community.
This discourse is recorded in the Pātimokkha, the basic code of discipline, and reflects specific situations that arose in the early Sangha community. Any conduct of lying down together with a woman, whether involving a male or female monastic, is regarded as a matter to be handled seriously, because it threatens concentration (samādhi) and the central aim of monastic life: liberation from sensual craving.
Main Content
The discourse prescribes that a bhikkhu is not permitted to lie down in the same room or on the same bed with a woman. This conduct is considered a serious violation, not because it discriminates against women, but because it indicates failure to avoid sensual desire, one of the three root causes of suffering (taṇhā).
The specific content of this discourse has not been fully translated in the available material; however, according to the general spirit of the Vinaya Piṭaka, the discourse applies the principle that any action opening an opportunity for the growth of sensual desire must be absolutely avoided. Bhikkhus are encouraged to live celibately, maintain appropriate distance from female monastics, and, if contact is necessary, to have a third person present as witness.
This rule applies not only to explicit actions, but also to situations capable of leading to inappropriate conduct. This is an expression of the preventive principle in the Vinaya Piṭaka: avoiding potentially dangerous situations before they develop into violations.
Practical Meaning
The practical meaning of the Mātugāmasahaseyya discourse extends beyond the framework of basic rules of conduct.
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