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28. The training rule on boarding boats

28. Nāvābhiruhanasikkhāpada

from: The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on the instruction

28. The training rule on boarding boats

Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the monks from the group of six were boarding boats by arrangement with nuns. People complained and criticized them, “Just as we enjoy ourselves on boats with our wives, so these Sakyan monastics make arrangements with the nuns and then enjoy themselves on boats.”

The monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, “How can the monks from the group of six board boats by arrangement with nuns?” … “Is it true, monks, that you do this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them … “Foolish men, how can you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Preliminary ruling

‘If a monk boards a boat by arrangement with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards a number of monks and nuns were traveling from Sāketa to Sāvatthī. On the way they needed to cross a river. The nuns said to the monks, “Let’s cross together.”

“Sisters, it’s not allowable for us to board a boat by arrangement with a nun. Either you cross first, or we will.”

“You have the higher status, venerables. Please go first.”

But because the nuns crossed afterwards, they were robbed and raped by bandits. When they arrived at Sāvatthī they told the nuns there what had happened. The nuns then told the monks, who in turn told the Buddha.

Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow you to board a boat by arrangement with a nun if it’s for the purpose of crossing.

And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

‘If a monk boards a boat by arrangement with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, except for the purpose of crossing, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case. A nun: she has been given the full ordination by both Sanghas. With: together. By arrangement: if he makes an arrangement like this: he says, “Let’s board, Sister,” and she replies, “Yes, let’s board, venerable;” or she says, “Let’s board, venerable,” and he replies, “Yes, let’s board, Sister;” or he says, “Let’s board today,” “Let’s board tomorrow,” “Let’s board the day after tomorrow,” then he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the monk boards when the nun has already boarded, he commits an offense entailing confession. If the nun boards when the monk has already boarded, he commits an offense entailing confession. If they both board together, he commits an offense entailing confession. To go upstream: for the purpose of going against the stream. To go downstream: for the purpose of going with the stream. Except for the purpose of crossing: unless it is to go across.

When the inhabited areas are a chicken’s flight apart, then for every next inhabited area he commits an offense entailing confession. When it is an uninhabited area, a wilderness, then for every six kilometers he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If there is an arrangement, and he perceives that there is, and he boards a boat with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, except for the purpose of crossing, he commits an offense entailing confession. If there is an arrangement, but he is unsure of it, and he boards a boat with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, except for the purpose of crossing, he commits an offense entailing confession. If there is an arrangement, but he does not perceive that there is, and he boards a boat with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, except for the purpose of crossing, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If the monk makes an arrangement, but the nun does not express her agreement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If there is no arrangement, but he perceives that there is, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If there is no arrangement, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If there is no arrangement, and he does not perceive that there is, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if it is for the purpose of crossing; if they board without an arrangement; if the nun has made an arrangement, but he has not expressed his agreement; if they board, but not according to the arrangement; if there is an emergency; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The training rule on boarding boats, the eighth, is finished.

Translation: English (Bhikkhu Brahmali). Source: SuttaCentral / Bilara (public domain, CC0).

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