BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

The Lie Chapter Chapter 8.1suspicious neighbors — and very few neighbors aren't suspicious of bhikkhus —would be quick to jump to conclusions. This is why no exemption is made for abhikkhu who commits this offense unknowingly. Other people may know what ishappening, and this is the sort of case where their opinion matters a great deal. Forthe same reason, the wise policy mentioned in the preceding rule applies even moreforcefully here: A bhikkhu would be well-advised not to lie down with a woman insuch places as parks, beaches, or unwalled pavilions even though in terms of therules no offense would be involved.There is some overlap between this rule and Pc 44 & 45, which deal with a bhikkhusitting or lying down together in private with a woman (or women). Special casescovered by this rule not covered by those would include, for example, a bhikkhu anda woman lying down in separate rooms of the same dwelling; and a bhikkhu and awoman lying down in the same dwelling with another man present. Also, underthose rules the questions of the bhikkhu's state of mind and his awareness of thesituation are important factors. Here they are of no consequence: Even a bhikkhuwith the purest state of mind — or completely unknowingly — incurs a pācittiyawhen lying down together with a woman in the same dwelling.Non-offenses. There is no offense in lying down with a woman in a dwelling thatunder the preceding rule would not be grounds for an offense, i.e.,fully roofed but with no walls (e.g., an open pavilion),fully walled but with no roof (e.g., a corral),half-roofed and less than half-walled,less than half-roofed and half-walled,less than half-roofed and less than half-walled.Still, as noted above, a bhikkhu would be well-advised to avoid such situationswhenever possible, and to have another man present when not.Summary: Lying down at the same time in the same dwelling with a woman is apācittiya offense.7. Should any bhikkhu teach more than five or six sentences ofDhamma to a woman, unless a knowledgeable man is present, it is tobe confessed."Then Ven. Udāyin, dressing early in the morning and taking his bowl and (outer)robe, went to visit a certain family. At that time the lady of the house was sitting inthe main entrance, while the daughter-in-law was sitting in the door to the innerchamber. So Ven. Udāyin went to the lady of the house... and whispered Dhammainto her ear. The daughter-in-law thought, 'Is this monk my mother-in-law's lover,or is he being fresh with her?' Then, having whispered Dhamma into the ear of thelady of the house, Ven. Udāyin went to the daughter-in-law... and whispered249