Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Sekhiya 64: Not to teach the dhamma to someone who is lying down unless they are ill.
- Translated from the Pali by I.B. Horner.
… in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the group of six monks taught dhamma to (someone) on a bed … " …
‘I will not teach dhamma to (someone) on a bed and who is not ill,’ is a training to be observed."
Dhamma should not be taught to (someone) on a bed (and) who is not ill. Whoever out of disrespect teaches dhamma to (someone) on a bed and even lying on the ground (and) who is not ill, there is an offence of wrong-doing.
There is no offence if it is unintentional … if he is the first wrong-doer.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū sayanagatassa dhammaṃ desenti … pe … .
2 "na sayanagatassa agilānassa dhammaṃ desessāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā"ti. (64:209)
3 na sayanagatassa agilānassa dhammo desetabbo. yo anādariyaṃ paṭicca antamaso chamāyampi nipannassa sayanagatassa agilānassa dhammaṃ deseti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.