Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Sitting alone with a woman

1Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At this time Venerable Udāyī heard that the Buddha had prohibited sitting alone with a woman on a private and concealed seat suitable for the deed, and so instead he sat down in private alone with the same girl. When they were able, they just chatted; otherwise he gave her a teaching.

2A second time Visākhā had been invited to that family. When she arrived, she saw Udāyī sitting in private alone with the same girl, and she said to Udāyī, “Venerable, it’s not appropriate for you to sit down in private alone with a woman. You may not be aiming at that act, but it’s hard to convince people with little confidence.” But Udāyī did not listen. After leaving, Visākhā told the monks what had happened. The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, “How could Venerable Udāyī sit down in private alone with a woman?”

3After rebuking Udāyī in many ways, they told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned Udāyī: “Is it true, Udāyī, that you did this?”

4“It’s true, sir.”

5The 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:

6Final ruling
‘Although a seat is not concealed, nor suitable for the deed, it may be suitable for speaking indecently to a woman. If a monk sits down on such a seat in private alone with a woman, and a trustworthy female lay follower sees him and accuses him of an offense entailing suspension or an offense entailing confession, then, if he admits to the sitting, he is to be dealt with according to one of these two or according to what that trustworthy female lay follower has said. This rule too is undetermined.’”

7Definitions
Although a seat is not concealed:

8it is not concealed by a wall, a screen, a door, a cloth screen, a tree, a pillar, a grain container, or anything else.

9Nor suitable for the deed:

10one is not able to have sexual intercourse.

11It may be suitable for speaking indecently to a woman:

12one is able to speak indecently to a woman.

13A:

14whoever …

15Monk:

16… 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.

17On such a seat:

18on that sort of seat.

19A woman:

20a human female, not a female spirit, not a female ghost, not a female animal. She understands and is capable of discerning good and bad speech, what is decent and what is indecent.

21With:

22together.

23Alone:

24just the monk and the woman.

25In private:

26private to the eye and private to the ear.

27Private to the eye:

28one is unable to see them winking, raising an eyebrow, or nodding.

29Private to the ear:

30one is unable to hear ordinary speech.

31Sits down:

32the monk sits down or lies down next to the seated woman. The woman sits down or lies down next to the seated monk. Both are seated or both are lying down.

33Trustworthy:

34she has attained the fruit, she has broken through, she has understood the instruction.

35Female lay follower:

36she has gone for refuge to the Buddha, the Teaching, and the Sangha.

37Sees:

38having seen.

39If she accuses him of an offense entailing suspension or an offense entailing confession, then, if he admits to the sitting, he is to be dealt with according to one of these two or according to what that trustworthy female lay follower has said.

40If she accuses him like this: “I’ve seen you seated, making physical contact with a woman,” and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offense. If she accuses him like this: “I’ve seen you seated, making physical contact with a woman,” but he says, “It’s true that I was seated, but I didn’t make physical contact,” then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. … “I wasn’t seated, but lying down,” then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. … “I wasn’t seated, but standing,” then he is not to be dealt with.

41If she accuses him like this: “I’ve seen you lying down, making physical contact with a woman,” and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offense. … “It’s true that I was lying down, but I didn’t make physical contact,” then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. … “I wasn’t lying down, but seated,” then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. … “I wasn’t lying down, but standing,” then he is not to be dealt with.

42If she accuses him like this: “I’ve heard you speaking indecently to a woman while seated,” and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offense. If she accuses him like this: “I’ve heard you speaking indecently to a woman while seated,” but he says, “It’s true that I was seated, but I didn’t speak indecently,” then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. … “I wasn’t seated, but lying down,” then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. … “I wasn’t seated, but standing,” then he is not to be dealt with.

43If she accuses him like this: “I’ve heard you speaking indecently to a woman while lying down,” and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the offense. … “It’s true that I was lying down, but I didn’t speak indecently,” then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. … “I wasn’t lying down, but seated,” then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. … “I wasn’t lying down, but standing,” then he is not to be dealt with.

44If she accuses him like this: “I’ve seen you seated in private alone with a woman,” and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. … “I wasn’t seated, but lying down,” then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. … “I wasn’t seated, but standing,” then he is not to be dealt with.

45If she accuses him like this: “I’ve seen you lying down in private alone with a woman,” and he admits to that, then he is to be dealt with for the lying down. … “I wasn’t lying down, but seated,” then he is to be dealt with for the sitting. … “I wasn’t lying down, but standing,” then he is not to be dealt with.

46This rule too:

47this is said with reference to the previous undetermined rule.

48Undetermined:

49not determined. It is either an offense entailing suspension or an offense entailing confession.

50Permutations
If he admits to going, and he admits to sitting, and he admits to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the offense. If he admits to going, but he does not admit to sitting, yet he admits to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the offense. If he admits to going, and he admits to sitting, but he does not admit to an offense, 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 offense, he is not to be dealt with.

51If he does not admit to going, but he admits to sitting, and he admits to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the offense. If he does not admit to going, nor does he admit to sitting, but he admits to an offense, he is to be dealt with for the offense. If he does not admit to going, but he admits to sitting, yet he does not admit to an offense, 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 offense, he is not to be dealt with.

52The second undetermined offense on sitting alone with a woman is finished.

53“Venerables, the two undetermined rules have been recited. In regard to this I ask you, ‘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.”

54This is the summary:

55“Suitable for the deed,
And then not so—
The undetermined offenses have been well laid down,
By the Stable One, the Buddha who is the best.”

56The chapter on undetermined offenses is finished.