Dhammaquelle Texts, Talks and Meditations

← VINAYA

Bu Pc 30

30. The training rule on sitting in private

30. Rahonisajjasikkhāpada

from: The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on the instruction

30. The training rule on sitting in private

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Venerable Udāyī’s ex-wife became a nun. She often went to see Udāyī, and he often went to see her. And Udāyī would sit down in private alone with that nun.

The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, “How can Venerable Udāyī sit down in private alone with a nun?” … “Is it true, Udāyī, that you do this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

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

Final ruling

‘If a monk sits down in private alone with a nun, 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. Alone: just the monk and the nun. In private: private to the eye and private to the ear. Private to the eye: one is unable to see them winking, raising an eyebrow, or nodding. Private to the ear: one is unable to hear ordinary speech. Sits: if the monk sits down or lies down next to the seated nun, he commits an offense entailing confession. If the nun sits down or lies down next to the seated monk, he commits an offense entailing confession. If both are seated or both are lying down, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it is private, and he perceives it as such, and he sits down alone with a nun, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is private, but he is unsure of it, and he sits down alone with a nun, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is private, but he does not perceive it as such, and he sits down alone with a nun, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If it is not private, but he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not private, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not private, and he does not perceive it as such, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if he has a companion who understands; if he stands and does not sit down; if he is not seeking privacy; if he sits down preoccupied with something else; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The training rule on sitting in private, the tenth, is finished.

The third subchapter on the instruction is finished.

This is the summary:

“Not appointed, set,
Dwelling place, worldly gain, and with giving;
He sews, a road, a boat, should eat,
Alone: those are the ten.”

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

These texts are freely available — anyone who wishes can support the work with a gift.