Vinaya (1): The Patimokkha
by T. W. Rhys Davids | 1881 | 17,356 words
The Patimokkha is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, of all Buddhist text-books; and it has been inserted in its entirety into the first part of the Vinaya, the Vibhanga. The Patimokkha seems to have owed its existence to the ancient Indian custom of holding sacred two periods in each month, the times of the Full Moon and of the New Moon....
Chapter 4 - The Aniyata Rules
Here, venerable Sirs, the two Rules regarding undetermined matters come into recitation.
1. Whatsoever Bhikkhu shall take a seat with a woman, one man with one woman, in secret, on a secluded seat, suitable[2] (for sexual intercourse); and if a believing woman, trustworthy of speech, who has seen (them so), shall lay it to his charge under one or other of three Rules, either under the Pārājika[3], or under the Saṃghādisesa[4] or under the Pācittiya[5] Rules:—let then that Bhikkhu, if he acknowledge that he has so sat, be dealt with (according to the circumstances reported) for a Pārājika, or for a Saṃghādisesa, or fora Pācittiya; or let that Bhikkhu be dealt with under that one of those three Rules under which the believing woman, trustworthy in speech, shall lay it to his charge.
This rule relates to a matter undetermined.
2. And furthermore, even if the seat be not secluded, and not convenient (for sexual intercourse), but be convenient for addressing a woman with wicked words[6], then whatsoever Bhikkhu shall take p. 17 a seat with a woman, one man with one woman, in secret, on such a seat, and a believing woman, trustworthy in speech, who has seen (them so), shall lay it to his charge under one or other of two Rules, either under the Saṃghādisesa, or under the Pācittiya Rule—let then that Bhikkhu, if he acknowledge that he has so sat, be dealt with (according to the circumstances reported) for a Saṃghādisesa, or for a Pācittiya; or let that Bhikkhu be dealt with under that one of those two Rules under which the believing woman, trustworthy in speech, shall lay it to his charge.
This rule relates to a matter undetermined.
Venerable Sirs, the two Rules regarding uncertain matters have been recited.
In respect of them I ask the venerable ones, 'Are you pure in this matter?'
A second time I ask the venerable ones, 'Are you pure in this matter?'
A third time I ask the venerable ones, 'Are you pure in this matter ?'
The venerable ones are pure herein. Therefore do they keep silence. Thus I understand.
Here endeth the recitation of the Aniyatas.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
The whole or the following portion of the Pātimokkha, together with the Old Commentary on it, recurs in the Vibhanga, Book III.
[2]:
Alaṃkammaniye, an expression found only in this passage, The Vibhaṅga interprets it as above (Aniyata I, 2, 1).
[3]:
The 1st Pārājika.
[4]:
The 2nd Saṃghādisesa.
[5]:
Pācittiya 44, 45; and compare also 7, 27.
[6]:
Compare the 3rd Saṃghādisesa, and probably the 4th is also referred to.