BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code IChapter 5SaṅghādisesaSaṅghādisesaThis term means "involving the Community in the initial (ādi) and subsequent (sesa)acts." It derives from the fact that the Community is the agent that initially calls onthe bhikkhu who breaks any of the rules in this category to undergo the penalty (ofmānatta, penance, and parivāsa, probation), subsequently reimposes the penalty ifhe does not properly carry it out, and finally lifts the penalty when he does. Thereare thirteen training rules here, the first nine entailing a saṅghādisesa immediatelyon transgression, the last four only after the offender has been rebuked three timesas part of a Community transaction.1. Intentional emission of semen, except while dreaming, entails initial andsubsequent meetings of the Community.The origin story to this rule is as follows:"Now at that time Ven. Seyyasaka was leading the celibate life dissatisfied. Becauseof this, he was thin, wretched, unattractive, and pale, his body covered with veins.Ven. Udāyin saw that Ven. Seyyasaka was thin... his body covered with veins. Onseeing him, he said to him, 'Seyyasaka, my friend, why are you thin... your bodycovered with veins? Could it be that you're leading the celibate life dissatisfied?'"'Yes, friend.'"'In that case, eat as you like and sleep as you like and bathe as you like; andhaving eaten, slept, and bathed as you like, when dissatisfaction arises and lustassails the mind, emit semen having attacked (!) with your hand.'"'But is it okay to do that?'"'Of course. I do it myself.'"So then Ven. Seyyasaka ate as he liked and slept as he liked... and whendissatisfaction arose and lust assailed his mind, he would emit semen havingattacked with his hand. Then it wasn't long before he became attractive, withrounded features, a clear complexion, and very bright skin. So the bhikkhus whowere his friends said to him, 'Before, friend Seyyasaka, you were thin... your bodycovered with veins. But now you are attractive, with rounded features, a clearcomplexion, and very bright skin. Could it be that you're taking medicine?'"'No, I'm not taking medicine, my friends. I just eat as I like and sleep as I like... andwhen dissatisfaction arises and lust assails my mind, I emit semen having attackedwith my hand.'77