• Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
  • The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
  • The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
  • The subchapter on the instruction Ovādavagga

27. The training rule on arrangements 27. Saṁvidhānasikkhāpada

Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At that time the monks from the group of six traveled by arrangement with nuns. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṁ paṭipajjanti. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“Just as we walk about with our wives, so these Sakyan monastics walk about by arrangement with nuns.” “yatheva mayaṁ sapajāpatikā āhiṇḍāma, evamevime samaṇā sakyaputtiyā bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya āhiṇḍantī”ti.

The monks heard the complaints of those people, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the monks from the group of six travel by arrangement with the nuns?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṁ paṭipajjissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that you do this?” “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṁ paṭipajjathā”ti?

“It’s true, sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish men, how can you do this? kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṁ paṭipajjissatha. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha.

Preliminary ruling

‘If a monk travels by arrangement with a nun, even just to the next inhabited area, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhuniyā saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṁ paṭipajjeyya, antamaso gāmantarampi, pācittiyan”ti.

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks. Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards a number of monks and nuns were traveling from Sāketa to Sāvatthī. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū ca bhikkhuniyo ca sāketā sāvatthiṁ addhānamaggappaṭipannā honti. The nuns said to the monks, Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo te bhikkhū etadavocuṁ—“Let’s go together.” “mayampi ayyehi saddhiṁ gamissāmā”ti.

“Sisters, it’s not allowable for us to travel by arrangement with nuns. “Na, bhaginī, kappati bhikkhuniyā saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṁ paṭipajjituṁ. Either you go first, or we will.” Tumhe vā paṭhamaṁ gacchatha mayaṁ vā gamissāmā”ti.

“You have the higher status, venerables. “Ayyā, bhante, aggapurisā. Please go first.” Ayyāva paṭhamaṁ gacchantū”ti.

But because the nuns went behind, they were robbed and raped by bandits. Atha kho tāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ pacchā gacchantīnaṁ antarāmagge corā acchindiṁsu ca dūsesuñca. When they arrived at Sāvatthī, they told the nuns there what had happened. Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo sāvatthiṁ gantvā bhikkhunīnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. The nuns then told the monks, Bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. who in turn told the Buddha. Bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.

Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—

“Monks, I allow you to travel by arrangement with a nun if it’s a risky and dangerous road that should be traveled with a group. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, satthagamanīye magge sāsaṅkasammate sappaṭibhaye bhikkhuniyā saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṁ paṭipajjituṁ.

And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Final ruling

‘If a monk travels by arrangement with a nun, even just to the next inhabited area, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. “Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhuniyā saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaddhānamaggaṁ paṭipajjeyya, antamaso gāmantarampi, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ. This is the appropriate occasion: the road is considered risky and dangerous and should be traveled with a group.’” Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Satthagamanīyo hoti maggo sāsaṅkasammato sappaṭibhayo—ayaṁ tattha samayo”ti.

Definitions

A: Yo panāti
whoever … yo yādiso …pe…
Monk: 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. …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
A nun: Bhikkhunī nāma
she has been given the full ordination by both Sanghas. ubhatosaṅghe upasampannā.
With: Saddhinti
together. ekato.
By arrangement: Saṁvidhāyāti—
if he makes an arrangement like this: he says, “Let’s go, Sister,” and she replies, “Yes, let’s go, venerable;” or she says, “Let’s go, venerable,” and he replies, “Yes, let’s go, Sister;” or he says, “Let’s go today,” “Let’s go tomorrow,” “Let’s go the day after tomorrow,” then he commits an offense of wrong conduct. “gacchāma, bhagini, gacchāmāyya; gacchāmāyya, gacchāma, bhagini; ajja vā hiyyo vā pare vā gacchāmā”ti saṁvidahati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Even just to the next inhabited area: Antamaso gāmantarampīti
when the inhabited areas are a chicken’s flight apart, then for every next inhabited area he commits an offense entailing confession. kukkuṭasampāte gāme, gāmantare gāmantare āpatti pācittiyassa. When it is an uninhabited area, a wilderness, then for every six kilometers he commits an offense entailing confession. Agāmake araññe, addhayojane addhayojane āpatti pācittiyassa.
Except on an appropriate occasion: Aññatra samayāti
unless it is an appropriate occasion. ṭhapetvā samayaṁ.
The road should be traveled with a group: Satthagamanīyo nāma maggo
it is not possible to travel without a group. na sakkā hoti vinā satthena gantuṁ.
Risky: Sāsaṅkaṁ nāma
a place has been seen along that road where criminals are camping, eating, standing, sitting, or lying down. tasmiṁ magge corānaṁ niviṭṭhokāso dissati, bhuttokāso dissati, ṭhitokāso dissati, nisinnokāso dissati, nipannokāso dissati.
Dangerous: Sappaṭibhayaṁ nāma
criminals have been seen along that road, injuring, robbing, or beating people. If they go together thinking it is dangerous, but then see that it is not, the nuns are to be dismissed, “Go, Sisters.” tasmiṁ magge corehi manussā hatā dissanti, viluttā dissanti, ākoṭitā dissanti, sappaṭibhayaṁ gantvā appaṭibhayaṁ dassetvā uyyojetabbā— “gacchatha, bhaginiyo”ti.

Permutations

If there is an arrangement, and he perceives that there is, and he travels with a nun, even just to the next inhabited area, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. Saṁvidahite saṁvidahitasaññī ekaddhānamaggaṁ paṭipajjati, antamaso gāmantarampi, aññatra samayā, āpatti pācittiyassa. If there is an arrangement, but he is unsure of it, and he travels with a nun, even just to the next inhabited area, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. Saṁvidahite vematiko ekaddhānamaggaṁ paṭipajjati, antamaso gāmantarampi, aññatra samayā, āpatti pācittiyassa. If there is an arrangement, but he does not perceive that there is, and he travels with a nun, even just to the next inhabited area, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession. Saṁvidahite, asaṁvidahitasaññī ekaddhānamaggaṁ paṭipajjati, antamaso gāmantarampi, aññatra samayā, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If the monk makes an arrangement, but the nun does not express her agreement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Bhikkhu saṁvidahati bhikkhunī na saṁvidahati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If there is no arrangement, but he perceives that there is, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Asaṁvidahite saṁvidahitasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If there is no arrangement, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Asaṁvidahite vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If there is no arrangement, and he does not perceive that there is, there is no offense. Asaṁvidahite asaṁvidahitasaññī, anāpatti.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if it is an appropriate occasion; samaye, if he goes without an arrangement; asaṁvidahitvā gacchati, if the nun has made an arrangement, but he has not expressed his agreement; bhikkhunī saṁvidahati, bhikkhu na saṁvidahati, if they go, but not according to the arrangement; visaṅketena gacchanti, if there is an emergency; āpadāsu, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.

The training rule on arrangements, the seventh, is finished. Saṁvidhānasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ sattamaṁ.