Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Pācittiya 28: The Training Rule on Boarding Boats.
- 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 boarded a boat by appointment with nuns. People complained and criticised them: “Just as we amuse ourselves on boats with our wives, so these Sakyan ascetics make appointments with nuns and then amuse themselves on boats."
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 board boats by appointments 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 board boats by appointments 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 boards a boat by appointment with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, 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. On the way they had to cross a river, and the nuns said to the monks: “We will cross with the venerables."
“Sisters, it is not allowable for us to board a boat by appointment with a nun. You should cross first, or we will."
“Bhante, you have the highest status. 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 Master.
6 The Master then spoke on the Dhamma and addressed the monks: “Monks, I allow you to board boats by appointment with a nun if it is for the purpose of crossing." And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Final ruling
7 “If a monk boards a boat by appointment with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, unless it is for the purpose of crossing, he commits an offence entailing confession."
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 board, sister," and she replies, “Yes, lets’s board, venerable;" or she says, “Lets’s board, venerable," and he replies, “Yes, lets’s board sister;" or he says, “Let’s board today/tomorrow/the day after tomorrow," then he commits an offence of bad conduct.
12If the monk boards when the nun has already boarded, he commits an offence entailing confession. If the nun boards when the monks has already boarded, he commits an offence entailing confession. If they both board together, he commits an offence entailing confession.
13To go upstream: for the purpose of going against the stream.
14To go downstream: for the purpose of going with the stream.
15Unless it is for the purpose of crossing: except to go across.
16When 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.
Permutations
17If there is an appointment, and he perceives that there is, and he boards a boat with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, unless it is for the purpose of crossing, he commits an offence entailing confession. If there is an appointment, but he has doubts about it, and he boards a boat with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, unless it is for the purpose of crossing, he commits an offence entailing confession. If there is an appointment, but he perceives that there is not, and he boards a boat with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, unless it is for the purpose of crossing, 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 it is for the purpose of crossing; if he boards without an appointment; if the nun has made an appointment, but he has not expressed his agreement; if they board, but not according to the appointment; if there are dangers; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.
20The eighth rule, the training rule on boarding boats, is finished.
1
tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa
ārāme. tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunīhi saddhiṃ
saṃvidhāya ekaṃ nāvaṃ abhiruhanti. manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
"yatheva mayaṃ sapajāpatikā nāvāya kīḷāma, evamevime samaṇā sakyaputtiyā
bhikkhunīhi saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya nāvāya kīḷantī"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 ekaṃ nāvaṃ abhiruhissantī"ti … pe … "saccaṃ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhunīhi saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya ekaṃ nāvaṃ abhiruhathā"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhunīhi saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya ekaṃ nāvaṃ abhiruhissatha. netaṃ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
3 "yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhuniyā saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya ekaṃ nāvaṃ abhiruheyya, uddhangāminiṃ vā adhogāminiṃ vā, pācittiyan"ti.
4 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
5 tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū ca bhikkhuniyo ca sāketā sāvatthiṃ addhānamaggappaṭipannā honti. antarāmagge nadī taritabbā hoti. atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo te bhikkhū etadavocuṃ— "mayampi ayyehi saddhiṃ uttarissāmā"ti. "na, bhaginī, kappati bhikkhuniyā saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya ekaṃ nāvaṃ abhiruhituṃ; tumhe vā paṭhamaṃ uttaratha mayaṃ vā uttarissāmā"ti. "ayyā, bhante, aggapurisā. ayyāva paṭhamaṃ uttarantū"ti. atha kho tāsaṃ bhikkhunīnaṃ pacchā uttarantīnaṃ 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, tiriyaṃ taraṇāya bhikkhuniyā saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya ekaṃ nāvaṃ abhiruhituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
7 "yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhuniyā saddhiṃ saṃvidhāya ekaṃ nāvaṃ abhiruheyya uddhangāminiṃ vā adhogāminiṃ vā, aññatra tiriyaṃ taraṇāya, pācittiyan"ti. (28:77)
8 yo panāti yo yādiso … pe … bhikkhūti … pe … ayaṃ imasmiṃ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
9 bhikkhunī nāma ubhatosaṇghe upasampannā.
11 saṃvidhāyāti "abhiruhāma, bhagini, abhiruhāmāyya; abhiruhāmāyya, abhiruhāma, bhagini; ajja vā hiyyo vā pare vā abhiruhāmā"ti saṃvidahati āpatti dukkaṭassa.
12 bhikkhuniyā abhiruḷhe bhikkhu abhiruhati, āpatti pācittiyassa. bhikkhumhi abhiruḷhe bhikkhunī abhiruhati, āpatti pācittiyassa. ubho vā abhiruhanti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
13 uddhangāmininti ujjavanikāya.
15 aññatra tiriyaṃ taraṇāyāti ṭhapetvā tiriyaṃ taraṇaṃ.
16 kukkuṭasampāte gāme, gāmantare gāmantare āpatti pācittiyassa. agāmake araññe, aḍḍhayojane aḍḍhayojane āpatti pācittiyassa.
17 saṃvidahite saṃvidahitasaññī ekaṃ nāvaṃ abhiruhati uddhangāminiṃ vā adhogāminiṃ vā, aññatra tiriyaṃ taraṇāya, āpatti pācittiyassa. saṃvidahite vematiko ekaṃ nāvaṃ abhiruhati uddhangāminiṃ vā adhogāminiṃ vā, aññatra tiriyaṃ taraṇāya, āpatti pācittiyassa. saṃvidahite asaṃvidahitasaññī ekaṃ nāvaṃ abhiruhati uddhangāminiṃ vā adhogāminiṃ vā, aññatra tiriyaṃ taraṇāya, āpatti pācittiyassa.
18 bhikkhu saṃvidahati, bhikkhunī na saṃvidahati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. asaṃvidahite saṃvidahitasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. asaṃvidahite vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. asaṃvidahite, asaṃvidahitasaññī, anāpatti.
19 anāpatti— tiriyaṃ taraṇāya, asaṃvidahitvā abhiruhanti, bhikkhunī saṃvidahati, bhikkhu na saṃvidahati, visanketena abhiruhanti, āpadāsu ummattakassa, ādikammissāti.