Bi Pc 3838. Wandering outside the country
Pāli / Sanskrit:Tiroraṭṭha
A nun who goes wandering without a group of travelers in a dangerous area abroad must confess the offense.
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Commentary on the Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 38: Wandering outside the country (Tiroraṭṭha)
Background
This rule belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically to the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha (the code of rules for bhikkhunīs). This is a specialized code of discipline governing the conduct of the community of nuns, intended to protect the physical and mental well-being of its members and to uphold discipline within the monastic community.
During the time of Śākyamuni Buddha, bhikkhunīs were permitted to travel from place to place in order to study the Dhamma, practice meditation, and share the teachings. However, ancient India was a vast land with many different regions, some of which were lawless and dangerous. The Buddha understood that if bhikkhunīs were to travel alone or without a protective group through unsafe areas in foreign territories (tiroraṭṭha), they would face considerable risks to both their reputation and their physical safety.
This rule was therefore established to protect the safety, honor, and discipline of bhikkhunīs, while also teaching them to understand personal responsibility in making decisions about their conduct.
Main Content
According to Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 38, if a bhikkhunī travels through foreign lands or territories not recognized by the Buddha and the Saṅgha as safe, without a sufficiently large group of travelers or escorts accompanying her, she commits an offense requiring confession (a Pātimokkha offense requiring confession — paccantajānika).
The conditions of this offense include: the destination of travel is an unfamiliar region or foreign country, she is without a protective group (sammukhībhūta — persons accompanying her in an appropriate manner), and the location is considered dangerous. "Dangerous" here refers not only to physical threats but also to situations that could harm her reputation or her diligence in practice.
This offense reflects a broader principle of the Vinaya Piṭaka: monastics must be mindful of the conditions under which they may be adversely influenced by negative external factors.
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