Bi Pc 1414. Meeting a man on a street
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dutiyikauyyojana
A nun who, seeking privacy, stands alone with a man on street must confess the offense.
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EXPOSITION OF THE VINAYA: A BHIKKHUNĪ MEETING A MAN ON THE STREET
Background
This text belongs to the Pācittiya (Expiation Offenses) section of the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically within the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha — the code of rules for bhikkhunīs. This historical record is preserved within the Theravāda tradition, reflecting how Early Buddhism established monastic discipline.
The occasion arises from the need for bhikkhunīs to observe additional precepts beyond those of male bhikkhus. This is not due to any quality of "inferiority," but rather on the principle of safeguarding the respect accorded to the Buddhist community within society. During the time when the Blessed One was still present in the world, these regulations were established gradually on the basis of specific transgressions as they occurred, with the aim of preventing misunderstanding, offense, and to protect the virtue of the monastic community.
Principal Content
The rule known as "Dutiyikauyyojana" (Second Determination) concerns a particular situation: a bhikkhunī deliberately seeks a private opportunity to stand or lie down alone with a man on a road, outside a bustling public area. Such an action is regarded as a Saṅghādisesa (Offense Entailing a Formal Meeting of the Sangha), because it is liable to give rise to unwarranted suspicion regarding the bhikkhunī's conduct, even though her actual behavior may be entirely innocent.
The crucial point here is intention (cetanā) — the bhikkhunī has actively sought out privacy. This is not a case of a chance encounter, but a deliberate choice. When such a transgression occurs, the bhikkhunī must openly confess this fault before the Saṅgha — the monastic community.
This procedure of formal declaration emphasizes that there is no "concealment" within the Saṅgha. Transparency and sincerity are fundamental elements of Buddhist ethics. The process of confession is not for the purpose of punishment, but to purify the mind (cittapārisuddhi) and to restore right relationship within the community of practitioners.
Practical Significance
This text teaches a profound lesson on mindfulness and individual responsibility.
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