Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Pācittiya 27: The Training Rule on Appointments.
- Translated from the Pali by Brahmali Bhikkhu.
Origin story
First sub-story
1 At one time the Buddha, the Master, was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time monks from the group of six travelled on a road by appointment with nuns. People complained and criticised them: “Just as we go around with our wives, so these Sakyan ascetics go around by appointment with nuns."
2 Monks heard the complaints of those people, and the monks of few desires … complained and criticised those monks: “How can those monks from the group of six travel on a road by appointment with nuns?" … “Is it true, monks, that you do this?" “It’s true, Master." The Buddha, the Master, criticised them: “ … Foolish men, how can you travel on a road by appointment with nuns? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Preliminary ruling
3 “If a monk travels on a road by appointment with a nun, even if it is just between villages, he commits an offence entailing confession."
4 In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.
Second sub-story
5
Soon afterwards a number of monks and nuns were travelling from Sāketa to Sāvatthī. And the nuns said to the monks: “We will go with the venerables."
“Sisters, it is not allowable for us to travel on a road by appointment with a nun. You should go first, or we will."
“Bhante, you have the highest status. Please go first."
But because the nuns went behind, 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 Master.
6 The Master then spoke on the Dhamma and addressed the monks: “Monks, I allow you to travel by appointment with a nun, if it is on a caravan road which is considered dangerous and frightening." And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Final ruling
7 “If a monk travels on a road by appointment with a nun, even if just between villages, unless he has an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. The appropriate reason is that the road is considered dangerous and frightening and should be travelled with a company of travellers."
Definitions
8 A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who is ordained by a complete Sangha through a procedure of one motion and three announcements, which is unchallengeable and fit to stand; this sort of monk is meant in this case.
9 Nun: fully ordained by both Sanghas.
10With: together.
11By appointment: if he makes an appointment in this way: he says, “Lets’s go, sister," and she replies, “Yes, lets’s go, venerable;" or she says, “Lets’s go, venerable," and he replies, “Yes, lets’s go sister;" or he says, “Let’s go today/tomorrow/the day after tomorrow," then he commits an offence of bad conduct.
12Even if just between villages: when the villages are a chicken’s flight apart, then for every village interval, he commits an offence entailing confession. If it is in an uninhabited area, in the wilderness, then for every six kilometres Half a yojana. The length of a yojana has not been precisely established (perhaps it never was a precise distance), but a reasonable estimate is 8 miles or just under 13 kilometres (see T.W. Rhys Davids, “On the Ancient Coins and Measures of Ceylon", p.16). Thus half yojana is just over 6 km. he commits an offence entailing confession.
13Unless he has an appropriate reason: except at an appropriate time.
14Should be travelled with a company of travellers: it is not possible to travel on the road without a company of travellers.
15Dangerous: thieves have been seen along that road, camped, eating, standing, seated, or lying down.
16Frightening: thieves have been seen along that road, injuring, robbing, or beating people. If they go thinking it is frightening, but then see that it is not, the nuns are to be dismissed: “Go, sisters."
Permutations
17If there is an appointment, and he perceives that there is, and he travels on a road with a nun, even if just between villages, unless he has an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. If there is an appointment, but he has doubts about it, and he travels on a road with a nun, even if just between villages, unless he has an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. If there is an appointment, but he perceives that there is not, and he travels on a road with a nun, even if just between villages, unless he has an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession.
18If the monk makes an appointment, but the nun does not express her agreement, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If there is no appointment, but he perceives that there is, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If there is no appointment, but he has doubts about it, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If there is no appointment, and he perceives that there is not, there is no offence.
Non-offences
19There is no offence: if he has an appropriate reason; if he goes without an appointment; if the nun has made an appointment, but he has not expressed his agreement; if they go, but not according to the appointment; if there are dangers; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.
20The seventh rule, the training rule on appointments, is finished.
1
tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa
ārāme. tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunīhi saddhiṃ
saṃvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṃ paṭipajjanti. manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti
vipācenti— "yatheva mayaṃ sapajāpatikā āhiṇḍāma, evamevime samaṇā sakyaputtiyā
bhikkhunīhi saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya āhiṇḍantī"ti.
2 assosuṃ kho bhikkhū tesaṃ manussānaṃ ujjhāyantānaṃ khiyyantānaṃ vipācentānaṃ. ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe … te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunīhi saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṃ paṭipajjissantī"ti … pe … "saccaṃ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhunīhi saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṃ paṭipajjathā"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhunīhi saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṃ paṭipajjissatha. netaṃ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha.
3 "yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhuniyā saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṃ paṭipajjeyya, antamaso gāmantarampi, pācittiyan"ti.
4 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
5 tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū ca bhikkhuniyo ca sāketā sāvatthiṃ addhānamaggappaṭipannā honti. atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo te bhikkhū etadavocuṃ— "mayampi ayyehi saddhiṃ gamissāmā"ti. "na, bhaginī, kappati bhikkhuniyā saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṃ paṭipajjituṃ. tumhe vā paṭhamaṃ gacchatha mayaṃ vā gamissāmā"ti. "ayyā, bhante, aggapurisā. ayyāva paṭhamaṃ gacchantū"ti. atha kho tāsaṃ bhikkhunīnaṃ pacchā gacchantīnaṃ antarāmagge corā acchindiṃsu ca dūsesuñca. atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo sāvatthiṃ gantvā bhikkhunīnaṃ etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ. bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṃ etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ. bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ.
6 atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe dhammiṃ kathaṃ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— "anujānāmi, bhikkhave, satthagamanīye magge sāsankasammate sappaṭibhaye bhikkhuniyā saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṃ paṭipajjituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
7 "yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhuniyā saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṃ paṭipajjeyya, antamaso gāmantarampi, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. satthagamanīyo hoti maggo sāsankasammato sappaṭibhayo— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti. (27:76)
8 yo panāti yo yādiso … pe … bhikkhūti … pe … ayaṃ imasmiṃ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
9 bhikkhunī nāma ubhatosaṇghe upasampannā.
11 saṃvidhāyāti— "gacchāma, bhagini, gacchāmāyya; gacchāmāyya, gacchāma, bhagini; ajja vā hiyyo vā pare vā gacchāmā"ti saṃvidahati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
12 antamaso gāmantarampīti kukkuṭasampāte gāme, gāmantare gāmantare āpatti pācittiyassa. agāmake araññe, addhayojane addhayojane āpatti pācittiyassa.
13 aññatra samayāti ṭhapetvā samayaṃ.
14 satthagamanīyo nāma maggo na sakkā hoti vinā satthena gantuṃ.
15 sāsankaṃ nāma tasmiṃ magge corānaṃ niviṭṭhokāso dissati, bhuttokāso dissati, ṭhitokāso dissati, nisinnokāso dissati, nipannokāso dissati.
16 sappaṭibhayaṃ nāma tasmiṃ magge corehi manussā hatā dissanti, viluttā dissanti, ākoṭitā dissanti, sappaṭibhayaṃ gantvā appaṭibhayaṃ dassetvā uyyojetabbā— "gacchatha, bhaginiyo"ti.
17 saṃvidahite saṃvidahitasaññī ekaddhānamaggaṃ paṭipajjati, antamaso gāmantarampi, aññatra samayā, āpatti pācittiyassa. saṃvidahite vematiko ekaddhānamaggaṃ paṭipajjati, antamaso gāmantarampi, aññatra samayā, āpatti pācittiyassa. saṃvidahite, asaṃvidahitasaññī ekaddhānamaggaṃ paṭipajjati, antamaso gāmantarampi, aññatra samayā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
18 bhikkhu saṃvidahati bhikkhunī na saṃvidahati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. asaṃvidahite saṃvidahitasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. asaṃvidahite vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. asaṃvidahite asaṃvidahitasaññī, anāpatti.
19 anāpatti— samaye, asaṃvidahitvā gacchati, bhikkhunī saṃvidahati, bhikkhu na saṃvidahati, visanketena gacchanti, āpadāsu, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.