Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Pācittiya 7: The Training Rule on Teaching the Dhamma.
- 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 Venerable Udāyī associated with and visited a number of families in Sāvatthī. Then, after dressing in the morning, Venerable Udāyī took his bowl and robe and went to a certain family. Just then the housewife was sitting at the entrance door and the daughter-in-law at the door to one of the rooms. Venerable Udāyī went up to the housewife and taught her Dhamma by whispering in her ear. And the daughter-in-law thought, “Is this ascetic my mother-in-law’s lover or is he speaking lewdly?"
2
After teaching the housewife in this way, Venerable Udāyī approached the daughter-in-law and taught her Dhamma in the same way. Then the housewife thought, "Is this ascetic my daughter-in-law’s lover or is he speaking lewdly?"
After teaching Dhamma in this way, Venerable Udāyī left. Then the housewife said to her daughter-in-law: “Hey, what did that ascetic say to you?"
“He taught me Dhamma, Madam. But what did he say to you?"
“He taught me Dhamma too."
Then they complained and criticised him: “How can Venerable Udāyī teach Dhamma by whispering in the ear? Should not Dhamma be taught audibly and openly?"
3 Monks heard the complaints of those women, and the monks of few desires … complained and criticised Venerable Udāyī: “How can Venerable Udāyī teach Dhamma to women?"
4 After criticising him in many ways, they informed the Master. … “Is it true, Udāyī, that you do this?" “It’s true, Master." The Buddha, the Master, criticised him: “ … Foolish man, how can you teach Dhamma to women? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Preliminary ruling
5 “If a monk teaches Dhamma to a woman, he commits an offence entailing confession."
6 In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.
Second sub-story
7
Soon afterwards some female lay disciples saw some monks and said to them: “Venerables, please teach Dhamma."
“It’s not allowable for us to teach Dhamma to women."
“Please just teach five or six sentences. Even with that much it’s possible to understand the Dhamma."
“It’s not allowable for us to teach Dhamma to women." And being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not teach them.
8
Then those female lay disciples complained and criticised them: “How can the venerables when asked by us not teach Dhamma?"
Monks heard the complaints of those female lay disciples and they informed the Master. The Master spoke on the Dhamma and then addressed the monks: “Monks, I allow you to teach five or six sentences of Dhamma to a woman. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Preliminary ruling
9 “If a monk teaches more than five or six sentences of Dhamma to a woman, he commits an offence entailing confession."
10In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.
Third sub-story
11Knowing that the Master had made this allowance, monks from the group of six taught women more than five or six sentences of Dhamma in the presence of a man who did not understand. The monks of few desires complained and criticised them: “How can those monks from the group of six teach women more than five or six sentences of Dhamma in the presence of a man who does not understands?"
12After criticising those monks in many ways, they informed the Master. … “Is it true, monks, that you are doing this?" “It’s true, Master." The Buddha, the Master, criticised them: “ … Foolish men, how can you teach women more than five or six sentences of Dhamma in the presence of a man who does not understand? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Final ruling
13“If a monk teaches more than five or six sentences of Dhamma to a woman, except in the presence of a man who understands, he commits an offence entailing confession."
Definitions
14A: 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.
15A woman: a human female, not a female spirit, not a female ghost, not a female animal; one who understands and is capable of discerning bad speech and good speech, what is lewd and what is not lewd.
16More than five or six sentences: in excess of five or six sentences.
17Dhamma: what has been spoken by the Buddha, what has been spoken by disciples, what has been spoken by sages, what has been spoken by gods, what is connected with what is beneficial, what is connected with the Dhamma..
18Teaches: if he teaches by the line, then for every line he commits an offence entailing confession. If he teaches by the syllable, then for every syllable he commits an offence entailing confession.
19Except in the presence of a man who understands: apart from the presence of a man who understands. A man who understands: one who is capable of discerning bad speech and good speech, what is lewd and what is not lewd.
Permutations
20If it is a woman, and he perceives her as a woman, and he teaches her more than five or six sentences of Dhamma, except in the presence of a man who understands, he commits an offence entailing confession. If it is a woman, but he has doubts about it, and he teaches her more than five or six sentences of Dhamma, except in the presence of a man who understands, he commits an offence entailing confession. If it is a woman, but does not perceive her as a woman, and he teaches her more than five or six sentences of Dhamma, except in the presence of a man who understands, he commits an offence entailing confession.
21If he teaches more than five or six sentences of Dhamma to a female spirit, to a female ghost, to a paṇḍaka, to a female animal in the form of a woman, except in the presence of a man who understands, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it is not a woman, but he perceives it as a woman, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it is not a woman, but he has doubts about it, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If it is not a woman, and he does not perceive it as a woman, there is no offence.
Non-offences
22There is no offence: if a man who understands is present; if he teaches five or six sentences; if he teaches less than five or six sentences; if, after getting up, he sits down again and teaches; if, after getting up, the woman sits down again and then he teaches; if he teaches another woman; if he asks a question; if he is asked a question and then speaks; if he is speaking for the benefit of someone else and a woman is listening; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.
23The seventh rule, the training rule on teaching the Dhamma, is finished.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. tena kho pana samayena āyasmā udāyī sāvatthiyaṃ kulūpako hoti, bahukāni kulāni upasankamati. atha kho āyasmā udāyī pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena aññataraṃ kulaṃ tenupasankami. tena kho pana samayena gharaṇī nivesanadvāre nisinnā hoti, gharasuṇhā āvasathadvāre nisinnā hoti. atha kho āyasmā udāyī yena gharaṇī tenupasankami; upasankamitvā gharaṇiyā upakaṇṇake dhammaṃ desesi. atha kho gharasuṇhāya etadahosi— "kiṃ nu kho so samaṇo sassuyā jāro udāhu obhāsatī"ti?
2 atha kho āyasmā udāyī gharaṇiyā upakaṇṇake dhammaṃ desetvā yena gharasuṇhā tenupasankami; upasankamitvā gharasuṇhāya upakaṇṇake dhammaṃ desesi. atha kho gharaṇiyā etadahosi— "kiṃ nu kho so samaṇo gharasuṇhāya jāro udāhu obhāsatī"ti? atha kho āyasmā udāyī gharasuṇhāya upakaṇṇake dhammaṃ desetvā pakkāmi. atha kho gharaṇī gharasuṇhaṃ etadavoca— "he je, kiṃ te eso samaṇo avocā"ti? "dhammaṃ me, ayye, desesi". "ayyāya pana kiṃ avocā"ti? "mayhampi dhammaṃ desesī"ti. tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma ayyo udāyī upakaṇṇake dhammaṃ desessati. nanu nāma vissaṭṭhena vivaṭena dhammo desetabbo"ti?
3 assosuṃ kho bhikkhū tāsaṃ itthīnaṃ ujjhāyantīnaṃ khiyyantīnaṃ vipācentīnaṃ. ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe … te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma āyasmā udāyī mātugāmassa dhammaṃ desessatī"ti.
4 atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṃ udāyiṃ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … "saccaṃ kira tvaṃ, udāyi, mātugāmassa dhammaṃ desesī"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma tvaṃ, moghapurisa, mātugāmassa dhammaṃ desessasi. netaṃ moghapurisa, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
5 "yo pana bhikkhu mātugāmassa dhammaṃ deseyya pācittiyan"ti.
6 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
7 tena kho pana samayena upāsikā bhikkhū passitvā etadavocuṃ— "inghāyyā, dhammaṃ desethā"ti. "na, bhaginī, kappati mātugāmassa dhammaṃ desetun"ti. "inghāyyā, chappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ desetha, sakkā ettakenapi dhammo aññātun"ti. "na, bhaginī, kappati mātugāmassa dhammaṃ desetun"ti. kukkuccāyantā na desesuṃ. upāsikā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma, ayyā, amhehi yācīyamānā dhammaṃ na desessantī"ti.
8 assosuṃ kho bhikkhū tāsaṃ upāsikānaṃ ujjhāyantīnaṃ khiyyantīnaṃ vipācentīnaṃ. atha kho te bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ. atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe dhammiṃ kathaṃ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— "anujānāmi, bhikkhave, mātugāmassa chappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ desetuṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
9 "yo pana bhikkhū mātugāmassa uttarichappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ deseyya, pācittiyan"ti.
10 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
11 tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū— "bhagavatā anuññātaṃ mātugāmassa chappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ desetun"ti te aviññuṃ purisaviggahaṃ upanisīdāpetvā mātugāmassa uttarichappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ desenti. ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe … te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū aviññuṃ purisaviggahaṃ upanisīdāpetvā mātugāmassa uttarichappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ desessantī"ti.
12 atha kho te bhikkhū chabbaggiye bhikkhū anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ … pe … "saccaṃ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, aviññuṃ purisaviggahaṃ upanisīdāpetvā mātugāmassa uttarichappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ desethā"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, aviññuṃ purisaviggahaṃ upanisīdāpetvā mātugāmassa uttarichappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ desessatha. netaṃ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
13 "yo pana bhikkhu mātugāmassa uttarichappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ deseyya, aññatra viññunā purisaviggahena, pācittiyan"ti. (7:56)
14 yo panāti yo yādiso … pe … bhikkhūti … pe … ayaṃ imasmiṃ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
15 mātugāmo nāma manussitthī; na yakkhī na petī na tiracchānagatā; viññū, paṭibalā subhāsitadubbhāsitaṃ duṭṭhullāduṭṭhullaṃ ājānituṃ.
16 uttarichappañcavācāhīti atirekachappañcavācāhi.
17 dhammo nāma buddhabhāsito, sāvakabhāsito, isibhāsito, devatābhāsito, atthūpasañhito, dhammūpasañhito.
18 deseyyāti padena deseti, pade pade āpatti pācittiyassa. akkharāya deseti, akkharakkharāya āpatti pācittiyassa.
19 aññatra viññunā purisaviggahenāti ṭhapetvā viññuṃ purisaviggahaṃ. viññū nāma purisaviggaho, paṭibalo hoti subhāsitadubbhāsitaṃ duṭṭhullāduṭṭhullaṃ ājānituṃ.
20 mātugāme mātugāmasaññī uttarichappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ deseti, aññatra viññunā purisaviggahena, āpatti pācittiyassa. mātugāme vematiko uttarichappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ deseti, aññatra viññunā purisaviggahena, āpatti pācittiyassa. mātugāme amātugāmasaññī uttarichappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ deseti, aññatra viññunā purisaviggahena, āpatti pācittiyassa.
21 yakkhiyā vā petiyā vā paṇḍakassa vā tiracchānagatamanussaviggahitthiyā vā uttarichappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ deseti, aññatra viññunā purisaviggahena, āpatti dukkaṭassa. amātugāme mātugāmasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. amātugāme vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. amātugāme amātugāmasaññī, anāpatti.
22 anāpatti— viññunā purisaviggahena, chappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ deseti, ūnakachappañcavācāhi dhammaṃ deseti, uṭṭhahitvā puna nisīditvā deseti, mātugāmo uṭṭhahitvā puna nisīdati tasmiṃ deseti, aññassa mātugāmassa deseti, pañhaṃ pucchati, pañhaṃ puṭṭho katheti, aññassatthāya bhaṇantaṃ mātugāmo suṇāti, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.