Bi Ss 33. Being alone

Commentary on the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga Rule on Traveling Alone (Ekagāmantara)

Background

This text is taken from the Vinaya Piṭaka, within the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, specifically from the Pārājika section — the rules that lead to expulsion from the Sangha. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the disciplinary scriptural collection of Theravāda Buddhism, recording the ethical regulations and codes of conduct that the Buddha established for the communities of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs.

The Buddha's formulation of this rule arose from specific situations in the history of the early Sangha. Bhikkhunīs who lived independently, without a senior guide or without adhering to the common discipline of the community, gave rise to problems concerning safety, the good repute of the Dharma, and spiritual development. The Buddha therefore established binding rules in order to protect both individual members and the Sangha as a whole.

Principal Contents

The rule of Ekagāmantara (Traveling Alone) stipulates that a bhikkhunī may not travel or reside for an extended period in a place where she is alone and without a companion in the holy life (samathinī). Should any bhikkhunī violate this rule by living independently or traveling alone, she is subject to the penalty of Ārājikā — that is, temporary expulsion or the suspension of her rights and privileges within the Sangha, until such time as she submits, acknowledges the transgression, and commits herself not to repeat it.

This rule is not intended to restrict personal freedom, but rather to ensure the physical, mental, and moral safety of bhikkhunīs. Within the social context of the Buddha's time, a woman living independently could face dangers from without, and could likewise be placed under pressure to prove her personal purity. Moreover, the presence of a companion in the holy life helps to maintain discipline, fosters shared practice, and strengthens mutual support along the path of cultivation.

This rule also reflects the ideal of the Sangha: the gathering together, the cooperation, and the mutual support of its members. To live independently is not merely to violate a single rule; it is to act contrary to the very spirit of the Saṅgha itself.