Theravāda Vinaya

Translators: brahmali

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Mahāvibhaṅga
The Great Analysis

Saṅghādisesakaṇḍa
The chapter on offenses entailing suspension

4. Attakāmapāricariyasikkhāpada

The training rule on satisfying one’s own desires

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena āyasmā udāyī sāvatthiyaṁ kulūpako hoti, bahukāni kulāni upasaṅkamati.
At that time Venerable Udāyī was associating with and visiting a number of families in Sāvatthī.

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā itthī matapatikā abhirūpā hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā.

Atha kho āyasmā udāyī pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena tassā itthiyā nivesanaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.
One morning Udāyī robed up, took his bowl and robe, and went to the house of a beautiful widow where he sat down on the prepared seat.

Atha kho sā itthī yenāyasmā udāyī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi.
She then approached Udāyī, bowed, and sat down.

Ekamantaṁ nisinnaṁ kho taṁ itthiṁ āyasmā udāyī dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi.
And Udāyī instructed, inspired, and gladdened her with a teaching.

Atha kho sā itthī āyasmatā udāyinā dhammiyā kathāya sandassitā samādapitā samuttejitā sampahaṁsitā āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ etadavoca—
She then said,

“vadeyyātha, bhante, yena attho.
“Venerable, please tell me what you need.

Paṭibalā mayaṁ ayyassa dātuṁ yadidaṁ cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhāran”ti.
I can give robe-cloth, almsfood, a dwelling, and medicinal supplies.”

“Na kho te, bhagini, amhākaṁ dullabhā yadidaṁ cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārā.
“It’s not hard for us to get those requisites.

Api ca yo amhākaṁ dullabho taṁ dehī”ti.
Give instead what’s hard for us to get.”

“Kiṁ, bhante”ti?
“What’s that, Venerable?”

“Methunadhamman”ti.
“Sexual intercourse.”

“Attho, bhante”ti?
“Is it wanted now?”

“Attho, bhaginī”ti.
“Yes.”

“Ehi, bhante”ti,
Saying, “Come,”

ovarakaṁ pavisitvā sāṭakaṁ nikkhipitvā mañcake uttānā nipajji.
she entered her bedroom, took off her wrap, and lay back on the bed.

Atha kho āyasmā udāyī yena sā itthī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā—
Udāyī went up to her and spat out,

“ko imaṁ vasalaṁ duggandhaṁ āmasissatī”ti,
“Who would touch this stinking wretch!”

niṭṭhubhitvā pakkāmi.
and he left.

Atha kho sā itthī ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—
That woman then complained and criticized him,

“alajjino ime samaṇā sakyaputtiyā dussīlā musāvādino.
“These Sakyan monastics are shameless and immoral liars.

Ime hi nāma dhammacārino samacārino brahmacārino saccavādino sīlavanto kalyāṇadhammā paṭijānissanti.
They claim to have integrity, to be celibate and of good conduct, to be truthful, moral, and good.

Natthi imesaṁ sāmaññaṁ natthi imesaṁ brahmaññaṁ, naṭṭhaṁ imesaṁ sāmaññaṁ naṭṭhaṁ imesaṁ brahmaññaṁ, kuto imesaṁ sāmaññaṁ kuto imesaṁ brahmaññaṁ,
But they don’t have the good character of a monastic or brahmin.

apagatā ime sāmaññā apagatā ime brahmaññā.
They’ve lost the plot!

Kathañhi nāma samaṇo udāyī maṁ sāmaṁ methunadhammaṁ yācitvā, ‘ko imaṁ vasalaṁ duggandhaṁ āmasissatī’ti niṭṭhubhitvā pakkamissati.
How could the ascetic Udāyī ask for sexual intercourse from me, but then spit out, ‘Who would touch this stinking wretch!’ and leave?

Kiṁ me pāpakaṁ kiṁ me duggandhaṁ,
What’s bad about me? How am I stinking?

kassāhaṁ kena hāyāmī”ti?
How am I inferior to anyone?”

Aññāpi itthiyo ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
Other women, too, criticized him

“alajjino ime samaṇā sakyaputtiyā dussīlā musāvādino …pe…
in the same way,

kathañhi nāma samaṇo udāyī imissā sāmaṁ methunadhammaṁ yācitvā, ‘ko imaṁ vasalaṁ duggandhaṁ āmasissatī’ti niṭṭhubhitvā pakkamissati.

Kiṁ imissā pāpakaṁ kiṁ imissā duggandhaṁ, kassāyaṁ kena hāyatī”ti?

Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tāsaṁ itthīnaṁ ujjhāyantīnaṁ khiyyantīnaṁ vipācentīnaṁ.
The monks heard the criticism of those women,

Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
and the monks of few desires complained and criticized him,

“kathañhi nāma āyasmā udāyī mātugāmassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṁ bhāsissatī”ti.
“How could Venerable Udāyī encourage a woman to satisfy his own desires?”

Atha kho te bhikkhū āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.
Those monks rebuked Udāyī in many ways and then told the Buddha.

Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe bhikkhusaṅghaṁ sannipātāpetvā āyasmantaṁ udāyiṁ paṭipucchi—
The Buddha had the Sangha gathered and questioned Udāyī:

“saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, udāyi, mātugāmassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṁ bhāsasī”ti?
“Is it true, Udāyī, that you did this?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
“It’s true, Sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā—
The Buddha rebuked him,

“ananucchavikaṁ, moghapurisa, ananulomikaṁ appatirūpaṁ assāmaṇakaṁ akappiyaṁ akaraṇīyaṁ.
“It’s not suitable, foolish man, it’s not proper, it’s not worthy of a monastic, it’s not allowable, it’s not to be done.

Kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, mātugāmassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṁ bhāsissasi.
How could you do such a thing?

Nanu mayā, moghapurisa, anekapariyāyena virāgāya dhammo desito no sarāgāya …pe…
Haven’t I given many teachings for the sake of dispassion, not for the sake of passion …

kāmapariḷāhānaṁ vūpasamo akkhāto?
the stilling of the fevers of sensual pleasure?

Netaṁ, moghapurisa, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…
This will affect people’s confidence …” …

evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

“Yo pana bhikkhu otiṇṇo vipariṇatena cittena mātugāmassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṁ bhāseyya— ‘etadaggaṁ, bhagini, pāricariyānaṁ yā mādisaṁ sīlavantaṁ kalyāṇadhammaṁ brahmacāriṁ etena dhammena paricareyyāti methunupasaṁhitena’, saṅghādiseso”ti.
‘If a monk, overcome by lust and with a distorted mind, encourages a woman to satisfy his own desires, saying, “Sister, she provides the highest service who in this way satisfies one like me, who is virtuous, celibate, and of good character,” and if it is a reference to sexual intercourse, he commits an offense entailing suspension.’”

Yo panāti
A:

yo yādiso …pe…
whoever …

bhikkhūti
Monk:

…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
… 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.

Otiṇṇo nāma
Overcome by lust:

sāratto apekkhavā paṭibaddhacitto.
having lust, longing for, in love with.

Vipariṇatanti
Distorted:

rattampi cittaṁ vipariṇataṁ, duṭṭhampi cittaṁ vipariṇataṁ, mūḷhampi cittaṁ vipariṇataṁ.
a lustful mind is distorted; an angry mind is distorted; a confused mind is distorted.

Api ca rattaṁ cittaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetaṁ vipariṇatanti.
But in this case “distorted” refers to the lustful mind.

Mātugāmo nāma
A woman:

manussitthī, na yakkhī, na petī, na tiracchānagatā. Viññū paṭibalā subhāsitadubbhāsitaṁ duṭṭhullāduṭṭhullaṁ ājānituṁ.
a human female, not a female spirit, not a female ghost, not a female animal. She understands and is capable of discerning bad speech and good speech, what is decent and what is indecent.

Mātugāmassa santiketi
A woman:

mātugāmassa sāmantā, mātugāmassa avidūre.
near a woman, close to a woman.

Attakāmanti
His own desires:

attano kāmaṁ attano hetuṁ attano adhippāyaṁ attano pāricariyaṁ.
his own sensual desires, for the sake of himself, aiming at himself, satisfying himself.

Etadagganti
The highest:

etaṁ aggaṁ etaṁ seṭṭhaṁ etaṁ mokkhaṁ etaṁ uttamaṁ etaṁ pavaraṁ.
this is the highest, this is the best, this is the foremost, this is the utmost, this is the most excellent.

Yāti
She:

khattiyī vā brāhmaṇī vā vessī vā suddī vā.
an aristocrat woman, a brahmin woman, a merchant woman, or a woman worker.

Mādisanti
One like me:

khattiyaṁ vā brāhmaṇaṁ vā vessaṁ vā suddaṁ vā.
a male aristocrat, a male brahmin, a male merchant, or a male worker.

Sīlavantanti
Who is virtuous:

pāṇātipātā paṭivirataṁ, adinnādānā paṭivirataṁ, musāvādā paṭivirataṁ.
one who refrains from killing living beings, who refrains from stealing, who refrains from lying.

Brahmacārinti
Celibate:

methunadhammā paṭivirataṁ.
one who refrains from sexual intercourse.

Kalyāṇadhammo nāma
Of good character:

tena ca sīlena tena ca brahmacariyena kalyāṇadhammo hoti.
he is one of good character because of that virtue and because of being celibate.

Etena dhammenāti
In this way:

methunadhammena.
with sexual intercourse.

Paricareyyāti
Satisfies:

abhirameyya.
gives pleasure to.

Methunupasaṁhitenāti
If it is a reference to sexual intercourse:

methunadhammappaṭisaṁyuttena.
if it is connected with the sexual act.

Saṅghādisesoti
He commits an offense entailing suspension:

…pe… tenapi vuccati “saṅghādiseso”ti.
… Therefore, too, it is called “an offense entailing suspension”.

Itthī ca hoti itthisaññī sāratto ca.
It is a woman, he perceives her as a woman, and he has lust.

Bhikkhu ca naṁ itthiyā santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, āpatti saṅghādisesassa.
If the monk encourages the woman to satisfy his own desires, he commits an offense entailing suspension.

Itthī ca hoti vematiko …pe…
It is a woman, but he is unsure of it …

paṇḍakasaññī …
It is a woman, but he perceives her as a paṇḍaka …

purisasaññī …
It is a woman, but he perceives her as a man …

tiracchānagatasaññī sāratto ca.
It is a woman, but he perceives her as an animal, and he has lust.

Bhikkhu ca naṁ itthiyā santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, āpatti thullaccayassa.
If the monk encourages the woman to satisfy his own desires, he commits a serious offense.

Paṇḍako ca hoti paṇḍakasaññī sāratto ca.
It is a paṇḍaka, he perceives him as a paṇḍaka, and he has lust.

Bhikkhu ca naṁ paṇḍakassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, āpatti thullaccayassa.
If the monk encourages the paṇḍaka to satisfy his own desires, he commits a serious offense.

Paṇḍako ca hoti vematiko …pe…
It is a paṇḍaka, but he is unsure of it …

purisasaññī …
It is a paṇḍaka, but he perceives him as a man …

tiracchānagatasaññī …
It is a paṇḍaka, but he perceives him as an animal …

itthisaññī sāratto ca.
It is a paṇḍaka, but he perceives him as a woman, and he has lust.

Bhikkhu ca naṁ paṇḍakassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If the monk encourages the paṇḍaka to satisfy his own desires, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Puriso ca hoti
It is a man …

…pe…
… (To be expanded as above with appropriate adjustments.) …

tiracchānagato ca hoti tiracchānagatasaññī …pe…
It is an animal, he perceives it as an animal …

vematiko …
It is an animal, but he is unsure of it …

itthisaññī …
It is an animal, but he perceives it as a woman …

paṇḍakasaññī …
It is an animal, but he perceives it as a paṇḍaka …

purisasaññī sāratto ca.
It is an animal, but he perceives it as a man, and he has lust.

Bhikkhu ca naṁ tiracchānagatassa santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If the monk encourages the animal to satisfy his own desires, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Dve itthiyo dvinnaṁ itthīnaṁ itthisaññī sāratto ca.
It is two women, he perceives them both as women, and he has lust.

Bhikkhu ca naṁ dvinnaṁ itthīnaṁ santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, āpatti dvinnaṁ saṅghādisesānaṁ.
If the monk encourages both women to satisfy his own desires, he commits two offenses entailing suspension.

…pe…
(To be expanded as in <a href='https://suttacentral.net/pli-tv-bu-vb-ss2/en/brahmali#3.2.4'>Bu Ss 2:3.2.4</a>–Bu Ss 2:3.2.26, with appropriate substitutions.)

Itthī ca paṇḍako ca ubhinnaṁ itthisaññī sāratto ca.
It is a woman and a paṇḍaka, but he perceives both as women, and he has lust.

Bhikkhu ca naṁ ubhinnaṁ santike attakāmapāricariyāya vaṇṇaṁ bhāsati, āpatti saṅghādisesena dukkaṭassa.
If the monk encourages both of them to satisfy his own desires, he commits one offense entailing suspension and one offense of wrong conduct.

…pe…
(To be expanded as in <a href='https://suttacentral.net/pli-tv-bu-vb-ss2#3.3.4'>Bu Ss 2:3.3.4</a>–Bu Ss 2:3.3.61, with appropriate substitutions.)

Anāpatti—
There is no offense:

“cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārena upaṭṭhahā”ti bhaṇati,
if he says, “Support us with robe-cloth, almsfood, dwellings, and medicinal supplies;”

ummattakassa
if he is insane;

ādikammikassāti.
if he is the first offender.

4.1. Vinītavatthuuddānagāthā
Summary verses of case studies

Kathaṁ vañjhā labhe puttaṁ,
“How a barren woman, may she have a child,

Piyā ca subhagā siyaṁ;
And dear to, may I be fortunate;

Kiṁ dajjaṁ kenupaṭṭheyyaṁ,
What may I give, how may I support,

Kathaṁ gaccheyyaṁ suggatinti.
How may I get a good rebirth.”

4.2. Vinītavatthu
Case studies

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā vañjhā itthī kulūpakaṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca—
On one occasion a barren woman said to a monk who associated with her family,

“kathāhaṁ, bhante, vijāyeyyan”ti?
“Sir, how can I get pregnant?”

“Tena hi, bhagini, aggadānaṁ dehī”ti.
“Well, Sister, give the highest gift.”

“Kiṁ, bhante, aggadānan”ti?
“What’s that?”

“Methunadhamman”ti.
“Sexual intercourse.”

Tassa kukkuccaṁ ahosi …pe…
He became anxious …

“āpattiṁ tvaṁ, bhikkhu, āpanno saṅghādisesan”ti.
“You’ve committed an offense entailing suspension.”

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā vijāyinī itthī kulūpakaṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca—
On one occasion a fertile woman said to a monk who associated with her family,

“kathāhaṁ, bhante, puttaṁ labheyyan”ti?
“Sir, how can I get a child?”

“Tena hi, bhagini, aggadānaṁ dehī”ti.
“Well, Sister, give the highest gift.”

“Kiṁ, bhante, aggadānan”ti?
“What’s that?”

“Methunadhamman”ti.
“Sexual intercourse.”

Tassa kukkuccaṁ ahosi …pe…
He became anxious …

“āpattiṁ tvaṁ, bhikkhu, āpanno saṅghādisesan”ti.
“You’ve committed an offense entailing suspension.”

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā itthī kulūpakaṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca—
On one occasion a woman said to a monk who associated with her family,

“kathāhaṁ, bhante, sāmikassa piyā assan”ti?
“Sir, how can I get my husband to love me?”

“Tena hi, bhagini, aggadānaṁ dehī”ti.
“Well, Sister, give the highest gift.”

“Kiṁ, bhante, aggadānan”ti?
“What’s that?”

“Methunadhamman”ti.
“Sexual intercourse.”

Tassa kukkuccaṁ ahosi …pe…
He became anxious …

“āpattiṁ tvaṁ, bhikkhu, āpanno saṅghādisesan”ti.
“You’ve committed an offense entailing suspension.”

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā itthī kulūpakaṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca—
On one occasion a woman said to a monk who associated with her family,

“kathāhaṁ, bhante, subhagā assan”ti?
“Sir, how can I become more fortunate?”

“Tena hi, bhagini, aggadānaṁ dehī”ti.
“Well, Sister, give the highest gift.”

“Kiṁ, bhante, aggadānan”ti?
“What’s that?”

“Methunadhamman”ti.
“Sexual intercourse.”

Tassa kukkuccaṁ ahosi …pe…
He became anxious …

“āpattiṁ tvaṁ, bhikkhu, āpanno saṅghādisesan”ti.
“You’ve committed an offense entailing suspension.”

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā itthī kulūpakaṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca—
On one occasion a woman said to a monk who associated with her family,

“kyāhaṁ, bhante, ayyassa dajjāmī”ti?
“Sir, what may I give you?”

“Aggadānaṁ, bhaginī”ti.
“The highest gift, Sister.”

“Kiṁ, bhante, aggadānan”ti?
“What’s that?”

“Methunadhamman”ti.
“Sexual intercourse.”

Tassa kukkuccaṁ ahosi …pe…
He became anxious …

“āpattiṁ tvaṁ, bhikkhu, āpanno saṅghādisesan”ti.
“You’ve committed an offense entailing suspension.”

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā itthī kulūpakaṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca—
On one occasion a woman said to a monk who associated with her family,

“kenāhaṁ, bhante, ayyaṁ upaṭṭhemī”ti?
“Sir, how may I support you?”

“Aggadānena, bhaginī”ti.
“With the highest gift, Sister.”

“Kiṁ, bhante, aggadānan”ti?
“What’s that?”

“Methunadhamman”ti.
“Sexual intercourse.”

Tassa kukkuccaṁ ahosi …pe…
He became anxious …

“āpattiṁ tvaṁ, bhikkhu, āpanno saṅghādisesan”ti.
“You’ve committed an offense entailing suspension.”

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā itthī kulūpakaṁ bhikkhuṁ etadavoca—
On one occasion a woman said to a monk who associated with her family,

“kathāhaṁ, bhante, sugatiṁ gaccheyyan”ti?
“Sir, how can I get a good rebirth?”

“Tena hi, bhagini, aggadānaṁ dehī”ti.
“Well, Sister, give the highest gift.”

“Kiṁ, bhante, aggadānan”ti?
“What’s that?”

“Methunadhamman”ti.
“Sexual intercourse.”

Tassa kukkuccaṁ ahosi …pe…
He became anxious …

“āpattiṁ tvaṁ, bhikkhu, āpanno saṅghādisesan”ti.
“You’ve committed an offense entailing suspension.”

Attakāmapāricariyasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ catutthaṁ.
The training rule on satisfying one’s own desires, the fourth, is finished.