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Early Schools · Comparative Canon · Comparative Vinaya — Tibetan

Xct Mu Bu Vb Ss 2Physical Contact

Pāli / Sanskrit:Kāyasaṁsagga

📖289 words · ~1 min read
2

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Interpreted by Inti AI (English)
🪷 AI interpretation

Scripture on Bodily Contact: Kāyasaṁsagga

Context

In the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, the Bhikkhu-vibhaṅga records detailed rules of practice for bhikkhus. The scripture on Bodily Contact (Kāyasaṁsagga) is found in Xct Mu Bu Vb Ss 2, reflecting specific guidance related to the body and modes of communication within the Sangha community.

This content arose from specific situations encountered by the Buddha and his disciples, in order to build a system of Vinaya study helping monastics maintain purity, avoid ambiguity, and protect the honor of the Sangha. These are not arbitrary prohibitions, but practical and ethical instruction from the Blessed One for those gone forth.

Main Content

Bodily contact (kāyasaṁsagga) in the Theravāda Vinaya context refers to specific restrictions on how male bhikkhus come into physical contact with female lay followers or bhikkhunīs. The basic principle is to avoid direct contact that could cause misunderstanding or moral harm, especially contact involving sensitive areas.

The Vinaya especially prohibits actions such as shaking hands, embracing, or allowing the body to come into direct contact with a person of the opposite sex, except in special circumstances such as medical emergencies. When communication is necessary, a bhikkhu should use intermediary objects (such as a cloth or cord) or act at an appropriate distance in order to avoid needless suspicion.

The reasons for these rules are very practical: not only to protect personal honor, but also to protect the community’s faith in the Sangha, as well as to support monastics in maintaining purity of mind (brahmacarya). Vinaya Piṭaka materials clearly record exceptional cases that are permitted (such as when there is confirmation by a third person, or in emergencies), so that the law does not become overly rigid and inhumane.

🌏Why is this sūtra summarized by Inti AI?

🌏 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.

Translation source: Interpreted by AILicense: CC0-1.0 (Sujato) · personal-use (Minh Châu) · EN: AI translation from Vietnamese source, awaiting source English

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.

🔗Parallel editions
Bu Ss 2 · 2. Physical contact with a womanVinaya Piṭaka — The Discipline BasketLzh Mg Bu Vb Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseLzh Dg Bu Vb Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseBu Ss 2 · 2. Physical contact with a womanVinaya Piṭaka — The Discipline BasketLzh Mu Bu Vb Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseSan Lo Bu Pm Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — SanskritLzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseUpp Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseLzh Mg Bu Pm Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — ChineseSan Mu Bu Pm GBM 3 Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — SanskritSan Mu Bu Pm GBM 2 Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — SanskritXct Mu Bu Pm Ss 2 · Physical ContactComparative Vinaya — Tibetan
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