Xct Mu Bu Pm Pc 80Entering a Village at the Wrong Time
Pāli / Sanskrit:Vikālagāmappavisana
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The Sutta on Entering a Village at the Wrong Time (Vikālagāmappavisana)
Background
This sutta is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pācittiya section, the rules of expiation set forth by the Buddha Śākyamuni to regulate the practice life of monastics. Pācittiya includes actions for which a monastic who commits them must undergo the lightest form of confession.
A common background in the Vinaya Piṭaka is that monks often entered villages at unsuitable times, specifically at night, from after evening until dawn. This caused difficulty in managing the Sangha, created ways of living unsuitable to the spirit of practice, and could cause loss of confidence among the lay community. The Buddha therefore established a specific rule on the time for monastics to enter villages, in order to protect the purity and discipline of the Sangha and maintain a good relationship with the external community.
Main Content
According to Pācittiya rule 80, if a monastic enters a village without a legitimate reason at an inappropriate time, especially in the evening or at night, that monastic commits a Pācittiya offense. This is not a grave offense such as Pārājika or Saṅghādisesa, but a violation requiring the offender to confess openly before the assembly, another monastic, or the monastic community.
This rule is established on the principle of “not entering a village at an inappropriate time.” The appropriate time is defined as from dawn until before sunset. Apart from emergencies or permission from senior monastics, entering a village outside this time is considered a disciplinary violation.
The purpose of this rule is not to restrict the freedom of monastics, but to protect integrity, avoid unnecessary suspicions from the community, and maintain a disciplined life in accordance with the nature of renunciation. Darkness creates conditions that may lead to inappropriate actions or negligence, so limiting activity in the evening is a wise preventive measure.
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