Theravāda Vinayapiṭaka
Monks’ rules and their analysis
Monks’ Undetermined 2
At one time the Buddha, the Master, was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. Just then Venerable Udāyī was thinking, “The Master has prohibited sitting alone with a woman on a private and secluded seat suitable for doing it,” and so he sat alone in private with the same girl. There he spoke to her on the Dhamma, or they chatted together if the situation allowed.
For a second time Visākhā had been invited to that family. When she arrived there, she saw Venerable Udāyī sitting alone in private with the same girl, and she said to Venerable Udāyī: “Bhante, it’s not appropriate that you should sit alone with a woman on a private seat. Although you may not be aiming at that activity, people with little confidence are hard to convince.” But Venerable Udāyī did not listen. After she had left, Visākhā informed the monks about what had happened. The monks of few desires … complained and criticised him: “How can Venerable Udāyī sit alone with a woman on a private seat?”
After rebuking Venerable Udāyī in many ways, they informed the Master … “Is it true, Udāyī, that you sat alone with a woman on a private seat?”
“It’s true, Master.”
The Buddha, the Master, rebuked him: “… Foolish man, how could you sit alone with a woman on a private seat? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Final ruling
“Although a seat is not secluded, nor suitable for doing it, it may be suitable for speaking lewdly to a woman. If a monk sits alone with a woman in private on such a seat, and a trustworthy female lay disciple sees him and accuses him of an offence entailing suspension or an offence entailing confession, then, if he admits to the sitting, he is be dealt with according to one of these two or according to what that trustworthy female lay disciple has said. This rule too is undetermined.”
Definitions
Although a seat is not secluded: it is not hidden by a wall, a screen, a door, a screening cloth, a tree, a pillar, a grain container, or anything else.
Nor suitable for doing it: one is not able to have sexual intercourse.
It may be suitable for speaking lewdly to a woman: one is able to speak lewdly to a woman.
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..
On such a seat: on that sort of seat.
Woman: a human female, not a female spirit, not a female ghost, not a female animal; even a girl born that very day, all the more an older one.
Alone: just the monk and the woman.
Private: there is private to the eye and there is 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.
If (he) sits: the monk sits down or lies down next to a seated woman. A woman sits down or lies down next to the seated monk. Both are seated or both are lying down.
Trustworthy: she has attained the fruit, she has broken through, she has understood the teaching.
Female lay disciple: she has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha.
Accuses him of an offence entailing suspension or an offence entailing confession, then, if he admits to the sitting, he is be dealt with according to one of these two or according to what that trustworthy female lay disciple has said:
If she accuses him thus: “I have seen the Venerable seated, making physical contact with a woman,” and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offence. If she accuses him thus: “I have seen the Venerable seated, making physical contact with a woman,” but he says, “It is true that I was seated, but I did not make physical contact,” then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. … “I was not seated, but lying down,” then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. … “I was not seated, but standing,” then he is not to be dealt with.
If she accuses him thus: “I have seen the Venerable lying down, making physical contact with a woman,” and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offence. … “It is true that I was lying down, but I did not make physical contact,” then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. … “I was not lying down, but seated,” then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. … “I was not seated, but standing,” then he is not to be dealt with.
If she accuses him thus: “I have heard the Venerable speaking lewdly to a woman while seated,” and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offence. If she accuses him thus: “I have heard the Venerable speaking lewdly to a woman while seated,” but he says, “It is true that I was seated, but I did not speak lewdly,” then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. … “I was not seated, but lying down,” then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. … “I was not seated, but standing,” then he is not to be dealt with.
If she accuses him thus: “I have heard the Venerable speaking lewdly to a woman while lying down,” and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offence. … “It is true that I was lying down, but I did not speak lewdly,” then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. … “I was not lying down, but seated,” then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. … “I was not lying down, but standing,” then he is not to be dealt with.
If she accuses him thus: “I have seen the Venerable seated alone with a woman on a private seat,” and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. … “I was not seated, but lying down,” then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. … “I was not seated, but standing,” then he is not to be dealt with.
If she accuses him thus: “I have seen the Venerable lying down alone with a woman on a private seat,” and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. … “I was not lying down, but seated,” then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. … “I was not lying down, but standing,” then he is not to be dealt with.
This rule too: this is said with reference to the previous undetermined rule.
Undetermined: not fixed: it is either an offence entailing suspension or an offence entailing confession.
Permutations
If he admits to going, and he admits to sitting, and he admits to an offence, he is to be dealt with for the offence. If he admits to going, but he does not admit to sitting, yet he admits to an offence, he is to be dealt with for the offence. If he admits to going, and he admits to sitting, but he does not admit to an offence, he is to be dealt with for the sitting. If he admits to going, but he does not admit to sitting, nor does he admit to an offence, he is not to be dealt with.
If he does not admit to going, but he admits to sitting, and he admits to an offence, he is to be dealt with for the offence. If he does not admit to going, nor does he admit to sitting, but he admits to an offence, he is to be dealt with for the offence. If he does not admit to going, but he admits to sitting, yet he does not admit to an offence, he is to be dealt with for the sitting. If he does not admit to going, nor does he admit to sitting, nor does he admit to an offence, he is not to be dealt with.
The second undetermined rule is finished.
"Venerables, the two undetermined rules have been recited. In regard to this I ask the Venerables: ‘Are you pure in this?’ A second time I ask: ‘Are you pure in this?’ A third time I ask: ‘Are you pure in this?’ You are pure in this and therefore silent. I will remember it thus.”
And then not so;
The undetermined rules have been well laid down,
By the Stable One, the Buddha who is the best.
The chapter on undetermined rules is finished.