Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Sanghādisesa 4: Alluding To The Benefit Of Sexual Intercourse With Oneself
- Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Brahmali.
Origin story
1At one time the Buddha, the Master, was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. At that time Venerable Udāyī associated with and visited a number of families. Then, having dressed in the morning, Venerable Udāyī took his bowl and robe and went to the house of a beautiful widow, where he sat down on the prepared seat. That woman approached Venerable Udāyī, paid homage to him and sat down to one side. Venerable Udāyī instructed, inspired and gladdened her with a Dhamma talk. She then said, "Bhante, please say what you need. I am able to give robes, almsfood, lodging requisites, and medicines."
2"Itʼs not hard for us, sister, to get those requisites. Give instead what is hard for us to get."
"What is that, bhante?"
"Sexual intercourse."
"Is it needed now, bhante?"
"It is, sister."
"Come, bhante," and she entered her bedroom, took off her clothes, and lay back on the bed. Venerable Udāyī approached her and spat out, "Who would touch this foul-smelling wretch?" and he departed.
3Then that woman complained and criticised him: "These Sakyan ascetics are shameless, immoral, and liars. They claim to be followers of Dhamma, of good morality, committed to the spiritual life, speakers of truth, virtuous, of good conduct. But there is no recluseship or brahminhood among these—it is lost to them. Where is recluseship and brahminhood among them? They have departed from it. How can the ascetic Udāyī request sexual intercourse of me, and then spit out, "Who would touch this foul-smelling wretch?" and depart? What is bad about me? How am I foul-smelling? In what way am I inferior to whom?"
4Other women, too, criticised him in the same way, and the monks heard them. The monks of few desires … complained and criticised him: "How can Venerable Udāyī, in the presence of a woman, praise attending to his own desires?"
5Those monks rebuked Venerable Udāyī in many ways and then informed the Master. And the Master convened the Sangha and questioned Venerable Udāyī:
6"Is it true, Udāyī, that you praised attending to your own desires in the presence of a woman?"
"Itʼs true, Master."
The Buddha, the Master, rebuked him: "Itʼs not suitable, foolish man, itʼs not becoming, itʼs not proper, itʼs not worthy of a recluse, itʼs not allowable, itʼs not to be done. How could you, in the presence of a woman, praise attending to your own desires? Have I not taught the Dhamma in many ways for the sake of dispassion, not for the sake of passion … for the stilling of the fevers of sense desire? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Final ruling
7"If a monk, lustful and with a distorted mind, in the presence of a woman praises attending to his own desires: ‘Sister, she provides the highest service who attends in this way to a virtuous one like me, a celibate, one of good character,ʼ and if it is a reference to sexual intercourse, he commits an offence entailing suspension."
Definitions
8Bu-Ss.4.2">A: whoever … Monk: … The monk 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.
9Lustful: having lust, longing for, in love with.
10With a distorted mind: a mind with desire is distorted, a mind with anger is distorted, a confused mind is distorted. But in this case distorted refers to a mind with desire.
11Woman: a human female, not a female spirit, not a female ghost, not a female animal. She understands and is capable of discerning bad speech and good speech, what is lewd and what is not lewd.
12In the presence of a woman: near a woman, close to a woman.
13His own desires: oneʼs own sense desires, for the sake of oneself, aiming at oneself, service to oneself.
14The highest: this is the highest, this is the best, this is the foremost, this is the utmost, this is the most excellent.
15She: a noble woman, a brahmin woman, a merchant-caste woman, or a low-caste woman.
16One like me: a noble man, a brahmin, a merchant-caste man, or a low-caste man.
17Virtuous: one who refrains from killing living beings, who refrains from stealing, who refrains from lying.
18A celibate: one who refrains from sexual intercourse.
19One of good character: he is one of good character because of that virtue and because of being celibate.
20In this way: with sexual intercourse.
21Attends … to: gives pleasure to.
22If it is a reference to sexual intercourse: if it is a reference to the sexual act.
23He commits an offence entailing suspension: … This is the name and designation of this class of offence. Therefore, too, it is said that he commits an offence entailing suspension.
Permutations
24It is a woman, he perceives her as a woman, and he has lust. If the monk, in the woman’s presence, praises attending to his own desires, he commits an offence entailing suspension.
25It is a woman, but he has doubts about it … This paragraph is to be expanded as in Suspension 2, MS paragraphs 1023–1026. … but he perceives her as a paṇḍaka … but he perceives her as a man … but he perceives her as an animal, and he has lust. If the monk, in the woman’s presence, praises attending to his own desires, he commits a grave offence.
26It is a paṇḍaka, he perceives him as a paṇḍaka, and he has lust. If the monk, in the paṇḍaka’s presence, praises attending to his own desires, he commits a grave offence.
27It is a paṇḍaka, but he has doubts about it … This paragraph is to be expanded as in Suspension 2, MS paragraphs 1028–1031. … but he perceives him as a man … but he perceives him as an animal … but he perceives him as a woman, and he has lust. If the monk, in the paṇḍaka’s presence, praises attending to his own desires, he commits an offence of bad conduct.
28It is a man … This paragraph is to be expanded as in Suspension 2, MS paragraphs 1032–1035. … it is an animal, he perceives it as an animal … but he has doubts about it … but he perceives it as a woman … but he perceives it as a paṇḍaka … but he perceives it as a man, and he has lust. If the monk, in the animal’s presence, praises attending to his own desires, he commits an offence of bad conduct.
29It is two women, he perceives them both as women, and he has lust. If the monk, in the presence of both women, praises attending to his own desires, he commits two offences entailing suspension. … To be expanded as in Suspension 2, MS paragraphs 1037–1045. …
30It is a woman and a paṇḍaka, he perceives both as women, and he has lust. If the monk, in the presence of both of them, praises attending to his own desires, he commits one offence entailing suspension and one offence of bad conduct. … To be expanded as in Suspension 2, MS paragraphs 1046–1060. …
Non-offences
31There is no offence: if he says, "Attend on us with robes, almsfood, lodging requisites, and medicines;" if he is insane; if he is the first offender.
Case rulings
Mnemonic list
32How may a barren woman, can she get a son,
Dear to, may I be fortunate;
What may I give, with what may I be of service,
How may I get a good rebirth.
Case details
33At one time a certain barren woman said to a monk who was supported by her family: "Bhante, how may I become pregnant?"
"Well, sister, give the highest gift."
"What is the highest gift, bhante?"
"Sexual intercourse."
He became anxious … "Monk, you have committed an offence entailing suspension."
34At one time a certain fertile woman said to a monk who was supported by her family: "Bhante, how can I get a son?"
"Well, sister, give the highest gift." …
"Monk, you have committed an offence entailing suspension."
35At one time a certain woman said to a monk supported by her family: "Bhante, how can I become dear to my husband?"
"Well, sister, give the highest gift." …
"Monk, you have committed an offence entailing suspension."
36At one time a certain woman said to a monk supported by her family: "Bhante, how may I become fortunate?"
"Well, sister, give the highest gift." …
"Monk, you have committed an offence entailing suspension."
37At one time a certain woman said to a monk supported by her family: "Bhante, what can I give you?"
"The highest gift, sister." …
"Monk, you have committed an offence entailing suspension."
38At one time a certain woman said to a monk supported by her family: "Bhante, how can I be of service?"
"With the highest gift, sister." …
"Monk, you have committed an offence entailing suspension."
39At one time a certain woman said to a monk supported by her family: "Bhante, how may I get a good rebirth?"
"Well, sister, give the highest gift."
"What is the highest gift, bhante?"
"Sexual intercourse."
He became anxious and thought, "The Master has laid down a training rule. Could it be that I have committed an offence entailing suspension?" He informed the Master.
"Monk, you have committed an offence entailing suspension."
40The fourth training rule on attending to oneʼs own desires is finished.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṃ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. tena kho pana samayena āyasmā udāyī sāvatthiyaṃ kulūpako hoti, bahukāni kulāni upasankamati. tena kho pana samayena aññatarā itthī matapatikā abhirūpā hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā. atha kho āyasmā udāyī pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena tassā itthiyā nivesanaṃ tenupasankami; upasankamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. atha kho sā itthī yenāyasmā udāyī tenupasankami; upasankamitvā āyasmantaṃ udāyiṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. ekamantaṃ nisinnaṃ kho taṃ itthiṃ āyasmā udāyī dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṃsesi. atha kho sā itthī āyasmatā udāyinā dhammiyā kathāya sandassitā samādapitā samuttejitā sampahaṃsitā āyasmantaṃ udāyiṃ etadavoca— "vadeyyātha, bhante, yena attho. paṭibalā mayaṃ ayyassa dātuṃ yadidaṃ cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāran"ti.
2 "na kho te, bhagini, amhākaṃ dullabhā yadidaṃ cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā. api ca yo amhākaṃ dullabho taṃ dehī"ti. "kiṃ, bhante"ti? "methunadhamman"ti. "attho, bhante"ti? "attho, bhaginī"ti. "ehi, bhante"ti, ovarakaṃ pavisitvā sāṭakaṃ nikkhipitvā mañcake uttānā nipajji. atha kho āyasmā udāyī yena sā itthī tenupasankami; upasankamitvā— "ko imaṃ vasalaṃ duggandhaṃ āmasissatī"ti, niṭṭhubhitvā pakkāmi.
3 atha kho sā itthī ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti— "alajjino ime samaṇā sakyaputtiyā dussīlā musāvādino. ime hi nāma dhammacārino samacārino brahmacārino saccavādino sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā paṭijānissanti. natthi imesaṃ sāmaññaṃ natthi imesaṃ brahmaññaṃ, naṭṭhaṃ imesaṃ sāmaññaṃ naṭṭhaṃ imesaṃ brahmaññaṃ, kuto imesaṃ sāmaññaṃ kuto imesaṃ brahmaññaṃ, apagatā ime sāmaññā apagatā ime brahmaññā. kathañhi nāma samaṇo udāyī maṃ sāmaṃ methunadhammaṃ yācitvā, ‘ko imaṃ vasalaṃ duggandhaṃ āmasissatī’ti niṭṭhubhitvā pakkamissati. kiṃ me pāpakaṃ kiṃ me duggandhaṃ, kassāhaṃ kena hāyāmī"ti?
4 aññāpi itthiyo ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "alajjino ime samaṇā sakyaputtiyā dussīlā musāvādino … pe … kathañhi nāma samaṇo udāyī imissā sāmaṃ methunadhammaṃ yācitvā, ‘ko imaṃ vasalaṃ duggandhaṃ āmasissatī’ti niṭṭhubhitvā pakkamissati. kiṃ imissā pāpakaṃ kiṃ imissā duggandhaṃ, kassāyaṃ kena hāyatī"ti?
5 assosuṃ kho bhikkhū tāsaṃ itthīnaṃ ujjhāyantīnaṃ khiyyantīnaṃ vipācentīnaṃ. ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe … te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma āyasmā udāyī mātugāmassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṃ bhāsissatī"ti.
6 atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṃ udāyiṃ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ. atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe bhikkhusanghaṃ sannipātāpetvā āyasmantaṃ udāyiṃ paṭipucchi— "saccaṃ kira tvaṃ, udāyi, mātugāmassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṃ bhāsasī"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā— "ananucchavikaṃ, moghapurisa, ananulomikaṃ appatirūpaṃ assāmaṇakaṃ akappiyaṃ akaraṇīyaṃ. kathañhi nāma tvaṃ, moghapurisa, mātugāmassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṃ bhāsissasi. nanu mayā, moghapurisa, anekapariyāyena virāgāya dhammo desito no sarāgāya … pe … kāmapariḷāhānaṃ vūpasamo akkhāto? netaṃ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
7 "yo pana bhikkhu otiṇṇo vipariṇatena cittena mātugāmassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṃ bhāseyya— ‘etadaggaṃ, bhagini, pāricariyānaṃ yā mādisaṃ sīlavantaṃ kalyāṇadhammaṃ brahmacāriṃ etena dhammena paricareyyāti methunupasaṃhitena’, sanghādiseso"ti. (4:8)
8 yo panāti yo yādiso … pe … bhikkhūti … pe … ayaṃ imasmiṃ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
9 otiṇṇo nāma sāratto apekkhavā paṭibaddhacitto.
10 vipariṇatanti rattampi cittaṃ vipariṇataṃ, duṭṭhampi cittaṃ vipariṇataṃ, mūḷhampi cittaṃ vipariṇataṃ. api ca rattaṃ cittaṃ imasmiṃ atthe adhippetaṃ vipariṇatanti.
11 mātugāmo nāma manussitthī, na yakkhī, na petī, na tiracchānagatā. viññū paṭibalā subhāsitadubbhāsitaṃ duṭṭhullāduṭṭhullaṃ ājānituṃ.
12 mātugāmassa santiketi mātugāmassa sāmantā, mātugāmassa avidūre.
13 attakāmanti attano kāmaṃ attano hetuṃ attano adhippāyaṃ attano pāricariyaṃ.
14 etadagganti etaṃ aggaṃ etaṃ seṭṭhaṃ etaṃ mokkhaṃ etaṃ uttamaṃ etaṃ pavaraṃ.
15 yāti khattiyī vā brāhmaṇī vā vessī vā suddī vā.
16 mādisanti khattiyaṃ vā brāhmaṇaṃ vā vessaṃ vā suddaṃ vā.
17 sīlavantanti pāṇātipātā paṭivirataṃ, adinnādānā paṭivirataṃ, musāvādā paṭivirataṃ.
18 brahmacārinti methunadhammā paṭivirataṃ.
19 kalyāṇadhammo nāma tena ca sīlena tena ca brahmacariyena kalyāṇadhammo hoti.
20 etena dhammenāti methunadhammena.
22 methunupasaṃhitenāti methunadhammappaṭisaṃyuttena.
23 sanghādisesoti … pe … tenapi vuccati "sanghādiseso"ti.
24 itthī ca hoti itthisaññī sāratto ca. bhikkhu ca naṃ itthiyā santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṃ bhāsati, āpatti sanghādisesassa.
25 itthī ca hoti vematiko … pe … paṇḍakasaññī … purisasaññī … tiracchānagatasaññī sāratto ca. bhikkhu ca naṃ itthiyā santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṃ bhāsati, āpatti thullaccayassa.
26 paṇḍako ca hoti paṇḍakasaññī sāratto ca. bhikkhu ca naṃ paṇḍakassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṃ bhāsati, āpatti thullaccayassa.
27 paṇḍako ca hoti vematiko … pe … purisasaññī … tiracchānagatasaññī … itthisaññī sāratto ca. bhikkhu ca naṃ paṇḍakassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṃ bhāsati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
28 puriso ca hoti … pe … tiracchānagato ca hoti tiracchānagatasaññī … pe … vematiko itthisaññī … paṇḍakasaññī … purisasaññī sāratto ca. bhikkhu ca naṃ tiracchānagatassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṃ bhāsati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
29 dve itthiyo dvinnaṃ itthīnaṃ itthisaññī sāratto ca. bhikkhu ca naṃ dvinnaṃ itthīnaṃ santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṃ bhāsati, āpatti dvinnaṃ sanghādisesānaṃ … pe … .
30 itthī ca paṇḍako ca ubhinnaṃ itthisaññī sāratto ca. bhikkhu ca naṃ ubhinnaṃ santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṃ bhāsati, āpatti sanghādisesena dukkaṭassa … pe … .
31 anāpatti— "cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena upaṭṭhahā"ti bhaṇati, ummattakassa ādikammikassāti.
4.1 vinītavatthuuddānagāthā
32 kathaṃ vañjhā labhe puttaṃ,
piyā ca subhagā siyaṃ;
kiṃ dajjaṃ kenupaṭṭheyyaṃ,
kathaṃ gaccheyyaṃ suggatinti.
4.2 vinītavatthu
33 tena kho pana samayena aññatarā vañjhā itthī kulūpakaṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca— "kathāhaṃ, bhante, vijāyeyyan"ti? "tena hi, bhagini, aggadānaṃ dehī"ti. "kiṃ, bhante, aggadānan"ti? "methunadhamman"ti. tassa kukkuccaṃ ahosi … pe … "āpattiṃ tvaṃ, bhikkhu, āpanno sanghādisesan"ti. (1)
34 tena kho pana samayena aññatarā vijāyinī itthī kulūpakaṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca— "kathāhaṃ, bhante, puttaṃ labheyyan"ti? "tena hi, bhagini, aggadānaṃ dehī"ti. "kiṃ, bhante, aggadānan"ti? "methunadhamman"ti. tassa kukkuccaṃ ahosi … pe … "āpattiṃ tvaṃ, bhikkhu, āpanno sanghādisesan"ti. (2)
35 tena kho pana samayena aññatarā itthī kulūpakaṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca— "kathāhaṃ, bhante, sāmikassa piyā assan"ti? "tena hi, bhagini, aggadānaṃ dehī"ti. "kiṃ, bhante, aggadānan"ti? "methunadhamman"ti. tassa kukkuccaṃ ahosi … pe … "āpattiṃ tvaṃ, bhikkhu, āpanno sanghādisesan"ti. (3)
36 tena kho pana samayena aññatarā itthī kulūpakaṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca— "kathāhaṃ, bhante, subhagā assan"ti? "tena hi, bhagini, aggadānaṃ dehī"ti. "kiṃ, bhante, aggadānan"ti? "methunadhamman"ti. tassa kukkuccaṃ ahosi … pe … "āpattiṃ tvaṃ, bhikkhu, āpanno sanghādisesan"ti. (4)
37 tena kho pana samayena aññatarā itthī kulūpakaṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca— "kyāhaṃ, bhante, ayyassa dajjāmī"ti? "aggadānaṃ, bhaginī"ti. "kiṃ, bhante, aggadānan"ti? "methunadhamman"ti. tassa kukkuccaṃ ahosi … pe … "āpattiṃ tvaṃ, bhikkhu, āpanno sanghādisesan"ti. (5)
38 tena kho pana samayena aññatarā itthī kulūpakaṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca— "kenāhaṃ, bhante, ayyaṃ upaṭṭhemī"ti? "aggadānena, bhaginī"ti. "kiṃ, bhante, aggadānan"ti? "methunadhamman"ti. tassa kukkuccaṃ ahosi … pe … "āpattiṃ tvaṃ, bhikkhu, āpanno sanghādisesan"ti. (6)
39 tena kho pana samayena aññatarā itthī kulūpakaṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca— "kathāhaṃ, bhante, sugatiṃ gaccheyyan"ti? "tena hi, bhagini, aggadānaṃ dehī"ti. "kiṃ, bhante, aggadānan"ti? "methunadhamman"ti. tassa kukkuccaṃ ahosi … pe … "āpattiṃ tvaṃ, bhikkhu, āpanno sanghādisesan"ti. (7)