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

1Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Venerable Udāyī’s ex-wife became a nun. She often went to see Udāyī, and he often went to see her. And Udāyī would sit down in private alone with that nun.

2The monks of few desires complained and criticized him, “How can Venerable Udāyī sit down in private alone with a nun?” … “Is it true, Udāyī, that you do this?”

3“It’s true, sir.”

4The Buddha rebuked him … “Foolish man, how can you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

5Final ruling
‘If a monk sits down in private alone with a nun, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

6Definitions
A:

7whoever …

8Monk:

9… 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.

10A nun:

11she has been given the full ordination by both Sanghas.

12With:

13together.

14Alone:

15just the monk and the nun.

16In private:

17private to the eye and private to the ear.

18Private to the eye:

19one is unable to see them winking, raising an eyebrow, or nodding.

20Private to the ear:

21one is unable to hear ordinary speech.

22Sits:

23if the monk sits down or lies down next to the seated nun, he commits an offense entailing confession. If the nun sits down or lies down next to the seated monk, he commits an offense entailing confession. If both are seated or both are lying down, he commits an offense entailing confession.

24Permutations
If it is private, and he perceives it as such, and he sits down alone with a nun, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is private, but he is unsure of it, and he sits down alone with a nun, he commits an offense entailing confession. If it is private, but he does not perceive it as such, and he sits down alone with a nun, he commits an offense entailing confession.

25If it is not private, but he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not private, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not private, and he does not perceive it as such, there is no offense.

26Non-offenses
There is no offense: if he has a companion who understands; if he stands and does not sit down; if he is not seeking privacy; if he sits down preoccupied with something else; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

27The training rule on sitting alone with a nun, the tenth, is finished.

28The third subchapter on the instruction is finished.

29This is the summary:

30“Not appointed, set,
Dwelling place, worldly gain, and with giving;
He sews, a road, a boat, should eat,
Alone: those are the ten.”