Vinaya Pitaka (1): Bhikkhu-vibhanga (the analysis of Monks’ rules)
by I. B. Horner | 2014 | 345,334 words | ISBN-13: 9781921842160
The English translation of the Bhikkhu-vibhanga: the first part of the Suttavibhanga, which itself is the first book of the Pali Vinaya Pitaka, one of the three major ‘baskets’ of Therevada canonical literature. It is a collection of rules for Buddhist monks. The English translation of the Vinaya-pitaka (first part, bhikkhu-vibhanga) contains many...
Monks’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 67
Bu-Pc.67.1.1 BD.3.18 … at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time a certain monk, going to Sāvatthī through the Kosalan districts, passed by a certain village-gate. A certain woman, having quarrelled with her husband, having departed from the village, having seen that monk, spoke thus: “Where, honoured sir, will the master go?”
“I, sister, will go to Sāvatthī.”
“I will go together with the master.”
“If you wish to,[1] sister,” he said.
Then that woman’s husband, having departed from the village, asked people: “Have the masters seen such and such a woman?”[2]
“She, master, is going along with one who has gone forth.” Then that man, having followed after, having seized that monk, having thrashed him, set him free. Then that monk, incensed,[3] sat down at the foot of a certain tree. Then that woman spoke thus to that man:
“Master, that monk did not make me come out[4]; but it is I myself who am going along together with this monk. This monk is innocent[5]; go along, apologise to him.” Then that man apologised to that monk. Then that monk, having arrived at Sāvatthī, told this matter to the monks. Those who were modest monks … spread it about, saying:
BD.3.19 “How can a monk, having arranged together with a woman, go along the same high road?” …
“Is it true, as is said, that you, monk, Vin.4.133 having arranged together with a woman, went along the same high road?”
“It is true, lord.”
The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked him, saying:
“How can you, foolish man, having arranged together with a woman, go along the same high road? It is not, foolish man, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … And thus, monks, this rule of training should be set forth:
“Whatever monk, having arranged together with a woman, should go along the same high road, even among villages, there is an offence of expiation.”[6]
Bu-Pc.67.2.1 Whatever means: … monk is to be understood in this case.
Woman means: a human woman, not a female yakkha, not a female departed one, not a female animal; she is intelligent, competent to know good speech, bad speech, what is lewd, what is not lewd.[7]
Together with means: together.[8]
Having arranged means: if one arranges, saying, ‘We are going, sister, we are going, master, we are going, master, we are going, sister, we are going either today or … see Bu-Pc.27.3.1; Bu-Pc.66.2.1.
Bu-Pc.67.2.2 If he thinks that it is a woman when it is a woman, (and) having arranged, goes along the same high road, even among villages, there is an offence of expiation. If he is in doubt as to whether it is a woman … If he thinks that it is not a woman when it is a woman … offence of expiation. If the monk arranges (and) the woman does not arrange, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If, having arranged, he goes along the same BD.3.20 high road together with a female yakkha or a female departed one or with a eunuch or with an animal in the form of a human woman,[9] even among villages, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If he thinks that it is a woman when it is not a woman, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If he is in doubt as to whether it is not a woman, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If he thinks that it is not a woman when it is not a woman there is no offence.
Bu-Pc.67.2.3 There is no offence if he goes not having arranged; if the woman arranges (and) the monk does not arrange; if he goes without (making) a rendezvous; if there are accidents; if he is mad, if he is the first wrongdoer.[10]
The Seventh
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
eyyāsi.
[3]:
padhūpento; padhūpāti usually meaning ‘to blow forth smoke or flames,’ and padhūpita, ‘reeking, smoked out.’ Cf. padhūpāsi, Vin.4.109. Vin-a.869 says: pajjhāyanto attānaṃ yeva paribhāsanto nisīdi, downcast, he sat down reviling just himself.
[4]:
nippātesi = nikkhāmesi, Vin-a.869.
[5]:
akāraka, one who has done nothing, therefore no wrong, thus innocent, blameless.
[9]:
Cf. Vin.3.76 = BD.1.132, and see there n.2; cf. Vin.4.22–23.