BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

The Naked Ascetic Chapter Chapter 8.546. Should any bhikkhu, being invited for a meal and without takingleave of an available bhikkhu, go calling on families before or after themeal, except at the proper occasions, it is to be confessed. Here theproper occasions are these: a time of giving cloth, a time of makingrobes. These are the proper occasions here.The origin story here suggests that the purpose of this rule is to prevent bhikkhusfrom wandering off before an appointed meal time so that they will not show up lateor be difficult to track down; and to prevent them, after the meal, from using theinvitation as an excuse to go off wandering without taking leave (see Pc 85).However, the definition of the factor of object — which limits this rule to visiting laypeople's houses — and the non-offense clauses — which allow one to visitmonasteries and nunneries without taking leave — suggest a more over-ridingpurpose: to prevent bhikkhus from taking the invitation as an excuse to visit laypeople and spend their time in inappropriate activities.There are two factors for the full offense here.1) Object: a family residence.2) Effort: One enters such a residence — without having taken leave of anavailable bhikkhu — on a morning when one has been invited to a meal,except during the time exemptions mentioned in the rule.Object. A family residence is grounds for a pācittiya here; its yard, grounds for adukkaṭa.Effort. Entering the residence is defined as having both feet inside the threshold.Having only one foot over the threshold incurs a dukkaṭa, in addition to the dukkaṭafor entering the yard.Meal means one consisting of any of the five staple foods.As for the question of how to determine whether another bhikkhu is or is notavailable, the Commentary draws the distinction like this: After the desire to gocalling on families arises in one's mind and one takes a normal path to leave themonastery, if one comes across a bhikkhu who is close enough to address in anormal tone of voice (within six meters, says the Sub-commentary), that means thata bhikkhu is available and one should inform him of where one is going. If one doesnot come across a bhikkhu that close, no bhikkhu is available, and there is no needto go out of one's way to find one.This, though, is in direct contradiction to the Vibhaṅga's definition of available — "Itis possible to go, having taken leave" — that is, if there is another bhikkhu in themonastery, and there are no obstacles to taking one's leave from him (e.g., he isasleep, he is sick, he is receiving important visitors), one is obliged to go out ofone's way to inform him.347