Bi Pc 103103. Teaching a man alone

Scripture on Teaching Dhamma to One Man — Bhikkhunī Pc 103

Background

This scripture belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically the Bhikkhunī Pāṭimokkha, within the rules requiring confession (Pacittiya — offenses requiring expiation). The scripture reflects the context of the Buddha's time, when the community of bhikkhunīs was still young and in need of clear guidelines to maintain discipline and to live in harmonious coexistence with the community of bhikkhus.

This rule was established to protect the purity of the monastic community, particularly with regard to interactions between bhikkhunīs and men. In an evolving social context, where Buddhism was engaging with those outside the community, clear boundaries were necessary to prevent misunderstandings or situations that could damage the honor and trust placed in the Saṅgha.

Main Content

Rule Bhikkhunī Pc 103 stipulates that a bhikkhunī should not teach the Dhamma to a man beyond six sentences of the Buddha's word. Should a bhikkhunī violate this rule — that is, teach the Dhamma to a man for more than six sentences — she must perform expiation (pacittiya).

"Six sentences" here is understood as a limit on the amount of Dhamma teaching that may be transmitted in a single interaction between a bhikkhunī and a man. This limit is not because the content of the Dhamma is secret, but rather to avoid situations that could give rise to unnecessary intimacy or misunderstanding on the part of the public.

Expiation (pacittiya) in the context of the Vinaya Piṭaka requires the bhikkhunī to confess her offense before the community of bhikkhunīs, or at least before one other bhikkhunī. This is the lightest form of self-correction within the system of early Buddhist discipline, reflecting an approach oriented toward awakening and improvement rather than punishment.

Practical Significance

This rule teaches us about the importance of boundaries in religious practice.