Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
The subchapter on naked ascetics Acelakavagga

44. The training rule on private and concealed 44. Rahopaṭicchannasikkhāpada

Origin story

On one occasion when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Venerable Upananda the Sakyan went to the house of a friend and sat down in private on a concealed seat with his wife. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā upanando sakyaputto sahāyakassa gharaṁ gantvā tassa pajāpatiyā saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappesi. The husband complained and criticized him, Atha kho so puriso ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—“How could Venerable Upananda sit down in private on a concealed seat with my wife?” “kathañhi nāma ayyo upanando mayhaṁ pajāpatiyā saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappessatī”ti.

The monks heard the complaints of that man, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tassa purisassa ujjhāyantassa khiyyantassa vipācentassa. and the monks of few desires complained and criticized Upananda, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Upananda sit down in private on a concealed seat with a woman?” … “kathañhi nāma āyasmā upanando sakyaputto mātugāmena saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappessatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, Upananda, that you did this?” “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, upananda, mātugāmena saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappesī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked him … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish man, how could you do this? kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, mātugāmena saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappessasi. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Final ruling

‘If a monk sits down in private on a concealed seat with a woman, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu mātugāmena saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappeyya, pācittiyan”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 woman: Mātugāmo nāma: a female human being, not a female spirit, not a female ghost, not a female animal; even a girl born on that very day, let alone an older one. manussitthī, na yakkhī na petī na tiracchānagatā, antamaso tadahujātāpi dārikā, pageva mahattarī.
With: Saddhinti: together. ekato.
In private: Raho nāma: private to the eye and private to the ear. cakkhussa raho sotassa raho.
Private to the eye: Cakkhussa raho nāma: one is unable to see them winking, raising an eyebrow, or nodding. na sakkā hoti akkhiṁ vā nikhaṇīyamāne bhamukaṁ vā ukkhipīyamāne sīsaṁ vā ukkhipīyamāne passituṁ.
Private to the ear: Sotassa raho nāma: one is unable to hear ordinary speech. na sakkā hoti pakatikathā sotuṁ.
A concealed seat: Paṭicchannaṁ nāma āsanaṁ: it is concealed by a wall, a screen, a door, a cloth screen, a tree, a pillar, a grain container, or anything else. kuṭṭena vā kavāṭena vā kilañjena vā sāṇipākārena vā rukkhena vā thambhena vā kotthaḷiyā vā, yena kenaci paṭicchannaṁ hoti.
Sits down: Nisajjaṁ kappeyyāti: if the monk sits down or lies down next to the seated woman, he commits an offense entailing confession. mātugāme nisinne bhikkhu upanisinno vā hoti upanipanno vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the woman sits down or lies down next to the seated monk, he commits an offense entailing confession. Bhikkhu nisinne mātugāmo upanisinno vā hoti upanipanno vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. If both are seated or both are lying down, he commits an offense entailing confession. Ubho vā nisinnā honti ubho vā nipannā, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Permutations

If it is a woman, and he perceives her as such, and he sits down in private on a concealed seat with her, he commits an offense entailing confession. Mātugāme mātugāmasaññī raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is a woman, but he is unsure of it, and he sits down in private on a concealed seat with her, he commits an offense entailing confession. Mātugāme vematiko raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is a woman, but he does not perceive her as such, and he sits down in private on a concealed seat with her, he commits an offense entailing confession. Mātugāme amātugāmasaññī raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If he sits down in private on a concealed seat with a female spirit, a female ghost, a <i lang='pi' translate='no'>paṇḍaka</i>, or a female animal in the form of a woman, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Yakkhiyā vā petiyā vā paṇḍakena vā tiracchānagatāya vā manussaviggahitthiyā vā saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is not a woman, but he perceives them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Amātugāme mātugāmasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is not a woman, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Amātugāme vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is not a woman, and he does not perceive them as such, there is no offense. Amātugāme amātugāmasaññī, anāpatti.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if he has a male companion who understands; yo koci viññū puriso dutiyo hoti, if he stands and does not sit down; tiṭṭhati na nisīdati, if he is not seeking privacy; arahopekkho, if he sits down preoccupied with something else; aññavihito nisīdati, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.

The training rule on private and concealed, the fourth, is finished. Rahopaṭicchannasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ catutthaṁ.

English Translation

Pāli Text

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law
The Great Analysis
The chapter on offenses entailing confession
The subchapter on naked ascetics

44. The training rule on private and concealed

Origin story

On one occasion when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Venerable Upananda the Sakyan went to the house of a friend and sat down in private on a concealed seat with his wife. The husband complained and criticized him, “How could Venerable Upananda sit down in private on a concealed seat with my wife?”

The monks heard the complaints of that man, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized Upananda, “How could Venerable Upananda sit down in private on a concealed seat with a woman?” … “Is it true, Upananda, that you did this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked him … “Foolish man, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

‘If a monk sits down in private on a concealed seat with a woman, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A:: whoever …
Monk:: … 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.
A woman:: a female human being, not a female spirit, not a female ghost, not a female animal; even a girl born on that very day, let alone an older one.
With:: together.
In private:: private to the eye and private to the ear.
Private to the eye:: one is unable to see them winking, raising an eyebrow, or nodding.
Private to the ear:: one is unable to hear ordinary speech.
A concealed seat:: it is concealed by a wall, a screen, a door, a cloth screen, a tree, a pillar, a grain container, or anything else.
Sits down:: if the monk sits down or lies down next to the seated woman, he commits an offense entailing confession. If the woman sits down or lies down next to the seated monk, he commits an offense entailing confession. If both are seated or both are lying down, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it is a woman, and he perceives her as such, and he sits down in private on a concealed seat with her, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is a woman, but he is unsure of it, and he sits down in private on a concealed seat with her, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is a woman, but he does not perceive her as such, and he sits down in private on a concealed seat with her, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If he sits down in private on a concealed seat with a female spirit, a female ghost, a <i lang='pi' translate='no'>paṇḍaka</i>, or a female animal in the form of a woman, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not a woman, but he perceives them as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not a woman, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not a woman, and he does not perceive them as such, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if he has a male companion who understands; if he stands and does not sit down; if he is not seeking privacy; if he sits down preoccupied with something else; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The training rule on private and concealed, the fourth, is finished.

Theravāda Vinaya
Mahāvibhaṅga
Pācittiyakaṇḍa
Acelakavagga

44. Rahopaṭicchannasikkhāpada

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā upanando sakyaputto sahāyakassa gharaṁ gantvā tassa pajāpatiyā saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappesi. Atha kho so puriso ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—“kathañhi nāma ayyo upanando mayhaṁ pajāpatiyā saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappessatī”ti.

Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tassa purisassa ujjhāyantassa khiyyantassa vipācentassa. Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“kathañhi nāma āyasmā upanando sakyaputto mātugāmena saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappessatī”ti …pe… “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, upananda, mātugāmena saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappesī”ti?

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, mātugāmena saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappessasi. Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

“Yo pana bhikkhu mātugāmena saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

Yo panāti: yo yādiso …pe…
bhikkhūti: …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
Mātugāmo nāma: manussitthī, na yakkhī na petī na tiracchānagatā, antamaso tadahujātāpi dārikā, pageva mahattarī.
Saddhinti: ekato.
Raho nāma: cakkhussa raho sotassa raho.
Cakkhussa raho nāma: na sakkā hoti akkhiṁ vā nikhaṇīyamāne bhamukaṁ vā ukkhipīyamāne sīsaṁ vā ukkhipīyamāne passituṁ.
Sotassa raho nāma: na sakkā hoti pakatikathā sotuṁ.
Paṭicchannaṁ nāma āsanaṁ: kuṭṭena vā kavāṭena vā kilañjena vā sāṇipākārena vā rukkhena vā thambhena vā kotthaḷiyā vā, yena kenaci paṭicchannaṁ hoti.
Nisajjaṁ kappeyyāti: mātugāme nisinne bhikkhu upanisinno vā hoti upanipanno vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. Bhikkhu nisinne mātugāmo upanisinno vā hoti upanipanno vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. Ubho vā nisinnā honti ubho vā nipannā, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Mātugāme mātugāmasaññī raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. Mātugāme vematiko raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. Mātugāme amātugāmasaññī raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Yakkhiyā vā petiyā vā paṇḍakena vā tiracchānagatāya vā manussaviggahitthiyā vā saddhiṁ raho paṭicchanne āsane nisajjaṁ kappeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Amātugāme mātugāmasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Amātugāme vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Amātugāme amātugāmasaññī, anāpatti.

Anāpatti—yo koci viññū puriso dutiyo hoti, tiṭṭhati na nisīdati, arahopekkho, aññavihito nisīdati, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.

Rahopaṭicchannasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ catutthaṁ.

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
The subchapter on naked ascetics Acelakavagga

44. The training rule on private and concealed 44. Rahopaṭicchannasikkhāpada

Origin story

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

Final ruling

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 woman: Mātugāmo nāma: a female human being, not a female spirit, not a female ghost, not a female animal; even a girl born on that very day, let alone an older one. manussitthī, na yakkhī na petī na tiracchānagatā, antamaso tadahujātāpi dārikā, pageva mahattarī.
With: Saddhinti: together. ekato.
In private: Raho nāma: private to the eye and private to the ear. cakkhussa raho sotassa raho.
Private to the eye: Cakkhussa raho nāma: one is unable to see them winking, raising an eyebrow, or nodding. na sakkā hoti akkhiṁ vā nikhaṇīyamāne bhamukaṁ vā ukkhipīyamāne sīsaṁ vā ukkhipīyamāne passituṁ.
Private to the ear: Sotassa raho nāma: one is unable to hear ordinary speech. na sakkā hoti pakatikathā sotuṁ.
A concealed seat: Paṭicchannaṁ nāma āsanaṁ: it is concealed by a wall, a screen, a door, a cloth screen, a tree, a pillar, a grain container, or anything else. kuṭṭena vā kavāṭena vā kilañjena vā sāṇipākārena vā rukkhena vā thambhena vā kotthaḷiyā vā, yena kenaci paṭicchannaṁ hoti.
Sits down: Nisajjaṁ kappeyyāti: if the monk sits down or lies down next to the seated woman, he commits an offense entailing confession. mātugāme nisinne bhikkhu upanisinno vā hoti upanipanno vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the woman sits down or lies down next to the seated monk, he commits an offense entailing confession. Bhikkhu nisinne mātugāmo upanisinno vā hoti upanipanno vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. If both are seated or both are lying down, he commits an offense entailing confession. Ubho vā nisinnā honti ubho vā nipannā, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Permutations

Non-offenses

The training rule on private and concealed, the fourth, is finished. Rahopaṭicchannasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ catutthaṁ.