- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
- The chapter on training Sekhiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on evenly all around Parimaṇḍalavagga
8. The second training rule on lowered eyes 8. Dutiyaokkhittacakkhusikkhāpada
Origin 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 were looking here and there while sitting in inhabited areas. … Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū tahaṁ tahaṁ olokentā antaraghare nisīdanti …pe….
Final ruling
“‘I will lower my eyes while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.” “Okkhittacakkhu antaraghare nisīdissāmīti sikkhā karaṇīyā”ti.
One should lower one’s eyes while sitting in an inhabited area, looking a plow’s length ahead. Okkhittacakkhunā antaraghare nisīditabbaṁ yugamattaṁ pekkhantena. If a monk, out of disrespect, looks here and there while sitting in an inhabited area, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Yo anādariyaṁ paṭicca tahaṁ tahaṁ olokento antaraghare nisīdati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if it is unintentional; asañcicca, if he is not mindful; assatiyā, if he does not know; ajānantassa, if he is sick; gilānassa, if there is an emergency; āpadāsu, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.
The eighth training rule is finished. Aṭṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.