0.1Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
0.2BhikkhunivibhaṅgaThe Nuns’ Analysis
0.3PācittiyakaṇḍaThe chapter on offenses entailing confession
0.4RattandhakāravaggaThe subchapter on the dark of the night

0.511. RattandhakārasikkhāpadaMeeting a man in the dark

1.0Origin story

1.1Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,1.2Tena kho pana samayena bhaddāya kāpilāniyā antevāsiniyā bhikkhuniyā ñātako puriso gāmakā sāvatthiṁ agamāsi kenacideva karaṇīyena.a male relative of a nun who was a pupil of Bhaddā Kāpilānī went from his own village to Sāvatthī on some business.1.3Atha kho sā bhikkhunī tena purisena saddhiṁ rattandhakāre appadīpe ekenekā santiṭṭhatipi sallapatipi.Then, in the dark of the night and without a lamp, that nun stood and talked alone with that man.

1.4Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,1.5“kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī rattandhakāre appadīpe purisena saddhiṁ ekenekā santiṭṭhissatipi sallapissatipī”ti …pe…“How could a nun do such a thing?” …1.6“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī rattandhakāre appadīpe purisena saddhiṁ ekenekā santiṭṭhatipi sallapatipī”ti?“Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?”

1.7“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.“It’s true, sir.”

1.8Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked her …1.9kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī rattandhakāre appadīpe purisena saddhiṁ ekenekā santiṭṭhissatipi sallapissatipi.“How could a nun do such a thing?1.10Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.11evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

1.12.0Final ruling

1.12.1“Yā pana bhikkhunī rattandhakāre appadīpe purisena saddhiṁ ekenekā santiṭṭheyya vā sallapeyya vā, pācittiyan”ti.‘If, in the dark of the night without a lamp, a nun stands or talks alone with a man, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

2.1.0Definitions

2.1.1Yā panātiA:: 2.1.2yā yādisā …pe…whoever …
2.1.3bhikkhunītiNun:: 2.1.4…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti.… The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case.
2.1.5RattandhakāretiIn the dark of the night:: 2.1.6oggate sūriye.when the sun has set.
2.1.7AppadīpetiWithout a lamp:: 2.1.8anāloke.without light.
2.1.9PTS 4.269Puriso nāmaA man:: 2.1.10manussapuriso na yakkho na peto na tiracchānagato viññū paṭibalo santiṭṭhituṁ sallapituṁ.a human male, not a male spirit, not a male ghost, not a male animal. He understands and is capable of standing together and talking.
2.1.11SaddhintiWith:: 2.1.12ekato.together.
2.1.13EkenekātiAlone:: 2.1.14puriso ceva hoti bhikkhunī ca.just the man and the nun.
2.1.15Santiṭṭheyya vātiStands with:: 2.1.16purisassa hatthapāse tiṭṭhati, āpatti pācittiyassa.if she stands within arm’s reach of the man, she commits an offense entailing confession.
2.1.17Sallapeyya vātiTalks with:: 2.1.18purisassa hatthapāse ṭhitā sallapati, āpatti pācittiyassa.if she stands talking within arm’s reach of the man, she commits an offense entailing confession.

2.1.19Hatthapāsaṁ vijahitvā santiṭṭhati vā sallapati vā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she stands or talks outside of arm’s reach, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.1.20Yakkhena vā petena vā paṇḍakena vā tiracchānagatamanussaviggahena vā saddhiṁ santiṭṭhati vā sallapati vā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she stands or talks with a male spirit, a male ghost, a <i lang='pi' translate='no'>paṇḍaka</i>, or a male animal in human form, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.¹

2.2.0Non-offenses

2.2.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.2.2yo koci viññū dutiyo hoti,if she has a companion who understands; 2.2.3arahopekkhā,if she is not seeking privacy; 2.2.4aññavihitā santiṭṭhati vā sallapati vā,if she stands or talks thinking of something else;² 2.2.5ummattikāya,if she is insane; 2.2.6ādikammikāyāti.if she is the first offender.

2.2.7Paṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.The first training rule is finished.

11. Meeting a man in the dark