Bu Pc 4444. Sitting with a woman in a concealed place
Pāli / Sanskrit:Rahopaṭicchanna
A monk who, seeking privacy, sits in a secluded place with a woman must confess the offense.
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Pātimokkha Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 44: Sitting Alone with a Woman in a Concealed Place
Background
This belongs to the Pācittiya (Pātimokkha Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 44) — those offenses that require confession before the Sangha. The Theravāda Vinaya regulates the modes of conduct for those in the training, beginning with the most fundamental prohibitions (Pārājika) down to lighter violations that nonetheless require public confession.
This rule arises from the historical context in which the Buddha governed the Sangha. In the early periods, certain incidents caused the Buddha to promulgate rules in order to prevent suspicion, to maintain the purity of the Noble Dhamma, and to protect the reputation of those who have gone forth. The act of "sitting alone with a woman in a concealed place" (rahopaṭicchanna) belongs to those actions that easily give rise to doubt or offend the moral sensibilities of society.
Main Content
This rule stipulates that if a bhikkhunī (or a bhikkhu, depending on the specific code) deliberately sits alone in a concealed place with a woman — a place where a third person cannot easily see or approach — this constitutes a Pācittiya offense, requiring public confession before the Sangha (pāpuṇissati).
The term "alone" (eko) signifies that only two persons are present. "Concealed" (rahopaṭicchanna) is not limited merely to physical space but also implies intention — that the monastic actively seeks privacy in order to avoid being observed. The emphasis is not on the act of sitting together with a woman in itself, but on the deliberate concealment of that act.
The reason this rule was established derives from a fundamental principle: those who have gone forth should safeguard their conduct and avoid circumstances that easily give rise to doubt and suspicion within the community. This is not a matter of abuse, but rather a means of maintaining the purity of the Noble Dhamma — dhamma-suddhi — in the perception of the lay community and the community of the noble ones.
Practical Significance
In the Theravāda tradition, this rule teaches us a profound lesson that goes beyond the literal meaning of the words.
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