Dutiyaaniyata

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Mahāvibhaṅga

The Great Analysis

Aniyatakaṇḍa

The chapter on undetermined offenses

2. Dutiyaaniyatasikkhāpada

Sitting alone with a woman

Origin story

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā udāyī—“bhagavatā paṭikkhittaṁ mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho paṭicchanne āsane alaṅkammaniye nisajjaṁ kappetun”ti tassāyeva kumārikāya saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho nisajjaṁ kappesi kālayuttaṁ samullapanto kālayuttaṁ dhammaṁ bhaṇanto.

At this time Venerable Udāyī heard that the Buddha had prohibited sitting alone with a woman on a private and concealed seat suitable for the deed, and so instead he sat down in private alone with the same girl. When they were able, they just chatted; otherwise he gave her a teaching.

Dutiyampi kho visākhā migāramātā nimantitā taṁ kulaṁ agamāsi.

A second time Visākhā had been invited to that family.

Addasā kho visākhā migāramātā āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ tassāyeva kumārikāya saddhiṁ ekaṁ ekāya raho nisinnaṁ.

When she arrived, she saw Udāyī sitting in private alone with the same girl,

Disvāna āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ etadavoca—

and she said to Udāyī,

“idaṁ, bhante, nacchannaṁ nappatirūpaṁ yaṁ ayyo mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho nisajjaṁ kappeti.

“Venerable, it’s not appropriate for you to sit down in private alone with a woman.

Kiñcāpi, bhante, ayyo anatthiko tena dhammena, api ca dussaddhāpayā appasannā manussā”ti.

You may not be aiming at that act, but it’s hard to convince people with little confidence.”

Evampi kho āyasmā udāyī visākhāya migāramātuyā vuccamāno nādiyi.

But Udāyī did not listen.

Atha kho visākhā migāramātā nikkhamitvā bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi.

After leaving, Visākhā told the monks what had happened.

Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

The monks of few desires complained and criticized him,

“kathañhi nāma āyasmā udāyī mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho nisajjaṁ kappessatī”ti.

“How could Venerable Udāyī sit down in private alone with a woman?”

Atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…

After rebuking Udāyī in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned Udāyī:

“saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, udāyi, mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho nisajjaṁ kappesī”ti?

“Is it true, Udāyī, that you did this?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked him …

kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho nisajjaṁ kappessasi.

“Foolish man, how could you do this?

Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

“Na heva kho pana paṭicchannaṁ āsanaṁ hoti nālaṅkammaniyaṁ, alañca kho hoti mātugāmaṁ duṭṭhullāhi vācāhi obhāsituṁ.

‘Although a seat is not concealed, nor suitable for the deed, it may be suitable for speaking indecently to a woman.

Yo pana bhikkhu tathārūpe āsane mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho nisajjaṁ kappeyya, tamenaṁ saddheyyavacasā upāsikā disvā

If a monk sits down on such a seat in private alone with a woman, and a trustworthy female lay follower sees him

dvinnaṁ dhammānaṁ aññatarena vadeyya—saṅghādisesena vā pācittiyena vā.

and accuses him of an offense entailing suspension or an offense entailing confession,

Nisajjaṁ bhikkhu paṭijānamāno dvinnaṁ dhammānaṁ aññatarena kāretabbo— saṅghādisesena vā pācittiyena vā.

then, if he admits to the sitting, he is to be dealt with according to one of these two

Yena vā sā saddheyyavacasā upāsikā vadeyya tena so bhikkhu kāretabbo.

or according to what that trustworthy female lay follower has said.

Ayampi dhammo aniyato”ti.

This rule too is undetermined.’”

Definitions

Na heva kho pana paṭicchannaṁ āsanaṁ hotīti

Although a seat is not concealed:

appaṭicchannaṁ hoti kuṭṭena vā kavāṭena vā kilañjena vā sāṇipākārena vā rukkhena vā thambhena vā kotthaḷiyā vā yena kenaci appaṭicchannaṁ hoti.

it is not concealed by a wall, a screen, a door, a cloth screen, a tree, a pillar, a grain container, or anything else.

Nālaṅkammaniyanti

Nor suitable for the deed:

na sakkā hoti methunaṁ dhammaṁ paṭisevituṁ.

one is not able to have sexual intercourse.

Alañca kho hoti mātugāmaṁ duṭṭhullāhi vācāhi obhāsitunti

It may be suitable for speaking indecently to a woman:

sakkā hoti mātugāmaṁ duṭṭhullāhi vācāhi obhāsituṁ.

one is able to speak indecently to a woman.

Yo panāti

A:

yo yādiso …pe…

whoever …

bhikkhūti

Monk:

…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.

… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.

Tathārūpe āsaneti

On such a seat:

evarūpe āsane.

on that sort of seat.

Mātugāmo nāma

A woman:

manussitthī, na yakkhī na petī na tiracchānagatā, viññū paṭibalā subhāsitadubbhāsitaṁ duṭṭhullāduṭṭhullaṁ ājānituṁ.

a human female, not a female spirit, not a female ghost, not a female animal. She understands and is capable of discerning good and bad speech, what is decent and what is indecent.

Saddhinti

With:

ekato.

together.

Eko ekāyāti

Alone:

bhikkhu ceva hoti mātugāmo ca.

just the monk and the woman.

Raho nāma

In private:

cakkhussa raho, sotassa raho.

private to the eye and private to the ear.

Cakkhussa raho nāma

Private to the eye:

na sakkā hoti akkhiṁ vā nikhaṇīyamāne bhamukaṁ vā ukkhipīyamāne sīsaṁ vā ukkhipīyamāne passituṁ.

one is unable to see them winking, raising an eyebrow, or nodding.

Sotassa raho nāma

Private to the ear:

na sakkā hoti pakatikathā sotuṁ.

one is unable to hear ordinary speech.

Nisajjaṁ kappeyyāti

Sits down:

mātugāme nisinne bhikkhu upanisinno vā hoti upanipanno vā.

the monk sits down or lies down next to the seated woman.

Bhikkhu nisinne mātugāmo upanisinno vā hoti upanipanno vā.

The woman sits down or lies down next to the seated monk.

Ubho vā nisinnā honti ubho vā nipannā.

Both are seated or both are lying down.

Saddheyyavacasā nāma

Trustworthy:

āgataphalā abhisametāvinī viññātasāsanā.

she has attained the fruit, she has broken through, she has understood the instruction.

Upāsikā nāma

Female lay follower:

buddhaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, dhammaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā, saṅghaṁ saraṇaṁ gatā.

she has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the Teaching, and the Sangha.

Disvāti

Sees:

passitvā.

having seen.

Dvinnaṁ dhammānaṁ aññatarena vadeyya saṅghādisesena vā pācittiyena vā.

If she accuses him of an offense entailing suspension or an offense entailing confession,

Nisajjaṁ bhikkhu paṭijānamāno dvinnaṁ dhammānaṁ aññatarena kāretabbo— saṅghādisesena vā pācittiyena vā.

then, if he admits to the sitting, he is to be dealt with according to one of these two

Yena vā sā saddheyyavacasā upāsikā vadeyya, tena so bhikkhu kāretabbo.

or according to what that trustworthy female lay follower has said.

Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—

If she accuses him like this:

“ayyo mayā diṭṭho nisinno mātugāmena saddhiṁ kāyasaṁsaggaṁ samāpajjanto”ti,

“I’ve seen you seated, making physical contact with a woman,”

so ca taṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo.

and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offense.

Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—

If she accuses him like this:

“ayyo mayā diṭṭho nisinno mātugāmena saddhiṁ kāyasaṁsaggaṁ samāpajjanto”ti,

“I’ve seen you seated, making physical contact with a woman,”

so ce evaṁ vadeyya—

but he says,

“saccāhaṁ nisinno, no ca kho kāyasaṁsaggaṁ samāpajjin”ti,

“It’s true that I was seated, but I didn’t make physical contact,”

nisajjāya kāretabbo …pe…

then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. …

“nāhaṁ nisinno, api ca kho nipanno”ti,

“I wasn’t seated, but lying down,”

nipajjāya kāretabbo …pe…

then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. …

“nāhaṁ nisinno, api ca kho ṭhito”ti,

“I wasn’t seated, but standing,”

na kāretabbo.

then he is not to be dealt with.

Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—

If she accuses him like this:

“ayyo mayā diṭṭho nipanno mātugāmena saddhiṁ kāyasaṁsaggaṁ samāpajjanto”ti,

“I’ve seen you lying down, making physical contact with a woman,”

so ca taṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo …pe…

and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offense. …

“saccāhaṁ nipanno, no ca kho kāyasaṁsaggaṁ samāpajjin”ti,

“It’s true that I was lying down, but I didn’t make physical contact,”

nipajjāya kāretabbo …pe…

then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. …

“nāhaṁ nipanno, api ca kho nisinno”ti,

“I wasn’t lying down, but seated,”

nisajjāya kāretabbo …pe…

then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. …

“nāhaṁ nipanno, api ca kho ṭhito”ti,

“I wasn’t lying down, but standing,”

na kāretabbo.

then he is not to be dealt with.

Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—

If she accuses him like this:

“ayyassa mayā sutaṁ nisinnassa mātugāmaṁ duṭṭhullāhi vācāhi obhāsantassā”ti,

“I’ve heard you speaking indecently to a woman while seated,”

so ca taṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo.

and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offense.

Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—

If she accuses him like this:

“ayyassa mayā sutaṁ nisinnassa mātugāmaṁ duṭṭhullāhi vācāhi obhāsantassā”ti,

“I’ve heard you speaking indecently to a woman while seated,”

so ce evaṁ vadeyya—

but he says,

“saccāhaṁ nisinno, no ca kho duṭṭhullāhi vācāhi obhāsin”ti,

“It’s true that I was seated, but I didn’t speak indecently,”

nisajjāya kāretabbo …pe…

then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. …

“nāhaṁ nisinno, api ca kho nipanno”ti,

“I wasn’t seated, but lying down,”

nipajjāya kāretabbo …pe…

then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. …

“nāhaṁ nisinno, api ca kho ṭhito”ti,

“I wasn’t seated, but standing,”

na kāretabbo.

then he is not to be dealt with.

Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—

If she accuses him like this:

“ayyassa mayā sutaṁ nipannassa mātugāmaṁ duṭṭhullāhi vācāhi obhāsantassā”ti,

“I’ve heard you speaking indecently to a woman while lying down,”

so ca taṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo …pe…

and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offense. …

saccāhaṁ nipanno, no ca kho duṭṭhullāhi vācāhi obhāsinti,

“It’s true that I was lying down, but I didn’t speak indecently,”

nipajjāya kāretabbo …pe…

then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. …

“nāhaṁ nipanno, api ca kho nisinno”ti,

“I wasn’t lying down, but seated,”

nisajjāya kāretabbo …pe…

then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. …

“nāhaṁ nipanno, api ca kho ṭhito”ti,

“I wasn’t lying down, but standing,”

na kāretabbo.

then he is not to be dealt with.

Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—

If she accuses him like this:

“ayyo mayā diṭṭho mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho nisinno”ti,

“I’ve seen you seated in private alone with a woman,”

so ca taṁ paṭijānāti, nisajjāya kāretabbo …pe…

and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. …

“nāhaṁ nisinno, api ca kho nipanno”ti,

“I wasn’t seated, but lying down,”

nipajjāya kāretabbo …pe…

then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. …

“nāhaṁ nisinno, api ca kho ṭhito”ti,

“I wasn’t seated, but standing,”

na kāretabbo.

then he is not to be dealt with.

Sā ce evaṁ vadeyya—

If she accuses him like this:

“ayyo mayā diṭṭho mātugāmena saddhiṁ eko ekāya raho nipanno”ti,

“I’ve seen you lying down in private alone with a woman,”

so ca taṁ paṭijānāti, nipajjāya kāretabbo …pe…

and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. …

nāhaṁ nipanno, api ca kho nisinnoti,

“I wasn’t lying down, but seated,”

nisajjāya kāretabbo …pe…

then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. …

nāhaṁ nipanno, api ca kho ṭhitoti,

“I wasn’t lying down, but standing,”

na kāretabbo.

then he is not to be dealt with.

Ayampīti

This rule too:

purimaṁ upādāya vuccati.

this is said with reference to the previous undetermined rule.

Aniyatoti

Undetermined:

na niyato, saṅghādiseso vā pācittiyaṁ vā.

not determined. It is either an offense entailing suspension or an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

Gamanaṁ paṭijānāti nisajjaṁ paṭijānāti āpattiṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo.

If he admits to going, and he admits to sitting, and he admits to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the offense.

Gamanaṁ paṭijānāti nisajjaṁ na paṭijānāti āpattiṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo.

If he admits to going, but he does not admit to sitting, yet he admits to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the offense.

Gamanaṁ paṭijānāti nisajjaṁ paṭijānāti āpattiṁ na paṭijānāti, nisajjāya kāretabbo.

If he admits to going, and he admits to sitting, but he does not admit to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the sitting.

Gamanaṁ paṭijānāti nisajjaṁ na paṭijānāti āpattiṁ na paṭijānāti, na kāretabbo.

If he admits to going, but he does not admit to sitting, nor does he admit to an offense, he is not to be dealt with.

Gamanaṁ na paṭijānāti nisajjaṁ paṭijānāti āpattiṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo.

If he does not admit to going, but he admits to sitting, and he admits to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the offense.

Gamanaṁ na paṭijānāti nisajjaṁ na paṭijānāti āpattiṁ paṭijānāti, āpattiyā kāretabbo.

If he does not admit to going, nor does he admit to sitting, but he admits to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the offense.

Gamanaṁ na paṭijānāti nisajjaṁ paṭijānāti āpattiṁ na paṭijānāti, nisajjāya kāretabbo.

If he does not admit to going, but he admits to sitting, yet he does not admit to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the sitting.

Gamanaṁ na paṭijānāti nisajjaṁ na paṭijānāti āpattiṁ na paṭijānāti, na kāretabboti.

If he does not admit to going, nor does he admit to sitting, nor does he admit to an offense, he is not to be dealt with.

Dutiyo aniyato niṭṭhito.

The second undetermined offense on sitting alone with a woman is finished.

Uddiṭṭhā kho āyasmanto dve aniyatā dhammā.

“Venerables, the two undetermined rules have been recited.

Tatthāyasmante pucchāmi—

In regard to this I ask you,

“kaccittha parisuddhā”?

‘Are you pure in this?’

Dutiyampi pucchāmi—

A second time I ask,

“kaccittha parisuddhā”?

‘Are you pure in this?’

Tatiyampi pucchāmi—

A third time I ask,

“kaccittha parisuddhā”?

‘Are you pure in this?’

Parisuddhetthāyasmanto;

You are pure in this

tasmā tuṇhī,

and therefore silent.

evametaṁ dhārayāmīti.

I will remember it thus.”

Tassuddānaṁ

This is the summary:

Alaṁ kammaniyañceva,

“Suitable for the deed,

tatheva ca naheva kho;

And then not so—

Aniyatā supaññattā,

The undetermined offenses have been well laid down,

buddhaseṭṭhena tādināti.

By the Stable One, the Buddha who is the best.”

Aniyatakaṇḍaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The chapter on undetermined offenses is finished.