Bi Ss 1212. Inappropriate socializing
Pāli / Sanskrit:Saṁsaṭṭhā
Nuns who are persistently notorious for inappropriate socialization, who create difficulties for the Order, and who hide each other offenses are suspended.
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Saṁsaṭṭhā: On Inappropriate Association
Background
The Saṁsaṭṭhā belongs to the Nuns' Fourfold Code, forming part of the Vinaya Piṭaka within the Theravāda Buddhist tradition. The Vinaya Piṭaka was compiled to guide the monastic community of monks and nuns in upholding discipline, protecting the Saṅgha, and maintaining the purity of the Bodhisattva path.
In the context of early Buddhism, nuns were permitted by the Buddha to undertake the training after the Blessed One Gotama gave his consent under strict conditions. Nuns were required to observe additional rules beyond those of monks, so as to avoid misunderstanding on the part of society and to preserve the integrity of the Dharma. The Saṁsaṭṭhā addresses the matter of "inappropriate association" (saṁsaṭṭha)—that is, intimate social relationships, those that are disproportionate, or those that arouse suspicion among the general public.
Principal Content
According to the text, nuns "long known for engaging in inappropriate association, causing trouble for the Saṅgha, and concealing one another's offenses" are to be subjected to Parivāsa—that is, a penalty of temporary suspension (or, in some translations, suspension of rights). This penalty is not permanent expulsion, but rather a corrective measure affording the nuns an opportunity for confession and reform.
"Saṁsaṭṭhā" does not refer solely to emotional or personal dealings with men, but encompasses public conduct that is unseemly, social gatherings convened without proper purpose, or relationships that damage the reputation of the Dharma. The element of "causing trouble for the Saṅgha" (saṅghaṁ kilamatī) indicates that such transgressions affect not only the individual but also give rise to division or loss of trust within the community.
Worthy of note is that the text also raises the matter of "concealing one another's offenses" (parasaṁ apareādhāni chādetī). This concerns the question of integrity within the Saṅgha—when nuns shield one another rather than pointing out wrongful conduct, the precepts lose their force and the Dharma is thereby weakened.
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