Bu Sk 6363. Sitting in a vehicle
Pāli / Sanskrit:Yāna
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The Discourse on Sitting in a Vehicle (Yāna Skandha)
Background
This text belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically within the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga (the Discipline for Nuns), which records the training rules for ordained Buddhist women. Yāna in Pāli means "vehicle" or "means of conveyance," and this text concerns the standards of proper conduct for bhikkhunīs when making use of a vehicle.
The historical context of this text originates from the time when the Blessed One was still present in the world. When the nuns needed to travel between monasteries or to participate in various Dhamma activities, the matter of riding in vehicles gave rise to questions of ethics and training. This was not merely a practical concern, but was also related to the maintenance of purity (sīla) and the proper attitude of practice for ordained women within the context of lay society.
Main Content
In this text, the Blessed One established specific rules concerning bhikkhunīs riding in vehicles. According to the Vinaya Piṭaka, this is not a matter of total prohibition, but rather one requiring adherence to certain conditions in order to preserve purity and to accord with the dignity appropriate to one who has gone forth.
The principal rule established is this: a bhikkhunī should not sit in a vehicle alone together with a man, except in the case of close relatives such as a father, brother, uncle, or those whose relationship is clearly defined. This principle arises from the intention to safeguard purity and to avoid circumstances that could be misunderstood or that might lead to conduct inconsistent with the code of one who has gone forth.
The text also addresses specific cases and exceptions. For example, if several other persons are also seated in the same vehicle, or if the journey is necessary for reasons of training and practice—such as traveling to visit one's teacher—then these rules may be reasonably adjusted. The Blessed One emphasized that the essential purpose of these rules is to protect the honor of ordained women and to sustain the faith and confidence of the broader community in the Sangha.
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