BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code 1According to the K/Commentary, taking leave in the context of this rule means thesimple act of informing the other bhikkhu that, "I am going to the house of so-andso,"or any similar statement. In other words, one is not asking permission to go(see the discussion of taking leave under Pc 14). However, if the other bhikkhu seesthat one is doing something improper in going, he is perfectly free to say so. If onetreats his comments with disrespect, one incurs at least a dukkaṭa under Pc 54.(See the discussion under that rule for details.)For a new bhikkhu still living in dependence (nissaya) on his mentor, though, takingleave is a matter of asking permission at all times, whether one has been invited toa meal or not. The Mahāvagga (I.25.24; II.21.1) states that one of the duties of sucha bhikkhu is that he must receive permission from his mentor before entering avillage, going to a cemetery, or leaving the district. Not to ask permission beforegoing, or to go after being denied permission, is to incur a dukkaṭa. As for thementor, if he gives permission to go when it is not appropriate to do so, he is theone who incurs the dukkaṭa.Perception as to whether one has actually been invited to a meal is not a mitigatingfactor here (see Pc 4).Non-offenses. As the rule states, there is no offense in not taking leave at the timeof giving cloth — the robe season — or at a time of making robes, i.e., any timewhen one is making a robe. These exceptions enable a bhikkhu to visit his laysupporters easily to obtain any gifts of thread, cloth, or scissors, etc., he may needat such times.There is also no offense in going to or through a family residence when one hastaken leave of another bhikkhu, or in going when one has not taken leave under anyof the following circumstances:— There is no bhikkhu available (in addition to the examples mentionedabove, this would include cases where one is living alone, all the otherbhikkhus have left, or all the bhikkhus in the monastery are going together).— One is going to the house where one was invited for the meal.— The path to the house in which the meal is to be given leads throughanother house or its yard.— One is on one's way to another monastery (§), to bhikkhunīs' quarters, tothe residence of people ordained in another religion (located in a village,says the Commentary), or one is returning from any of these places.— There are dangers. This, according to the Commentary, refers to dangersto one's life or to one's resolve in remaining celibate.The non-offense clauses do not mention this point, but the perception section ofthe Vibhaṅga makes clear that this rule does not apply when one is not invited to ameal.The general principle. This rule, in conjunction with Pc 85, is designed to keepbhikkhus from visiting lay people and spending their time in inappropriate ways. Pc85 deals with entire villages and towns, and covers the act of leaving the monastery348