Aniyata Dhamma
Rules of Undetermined Matters
The Aniyata Dhamma is the third part of the Suttavibhanga.
The Suttavibhanga is the first part of the Vinaya Pitaka ("Basket of Discipline").
The Vinaya Pitaka is the first part of the Tipitaka ("Three Baskets"), a.k.a. the Pali Canon.
The Tipitaka is the major religious text of Theravada Buddhism.
« Previous | Contents | Next »
The Aniyata Dhamma contains two situations dealing with the conduct of a bhikkhu (monk) or bhikkhuni (nun) around the opposite sex, the results of which are undetermined and should be settled according to the testimony of a third party.
The text was translated by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg in 1881; the translation is in the public domain. It was taken from http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/sbe13/index.htm. Text in [square brackets] (and all pipelinks) was added and does not appear in the translation; text in (parentheses) does appear in the translation.
Here, venerable Sirs, the two Rules regarding undetermined matters come into recitation.
- Whatsoever Bhikkhu shall take a seat with a woman, one man with one woman, in secret, on a secluded seat, suitable (for sexual intercourse); and if a believing woman, trustworthy of speech, who has seen (them so), shall lay it to his charge under one or other of three Rules, either under the Parajika, or under the Sanghadisesa or under the Pakittiya Rules:—let then that Bhikkhu, if he acknowledges that he has so sat, be dealt with (according to the circumstances reported) for a Parajika, or for a Sanghadisesa, or for a Pakittiya; or let that Bhikkhu be dealt with under that one of those three Rules under which the believing woman, trustworthy in speech, shall lay it to his charge. This rule relates to a matter undetermined.
- And furthermore, even if the seat be not secluded, and not convenient (for sexual intercourse), but be convenient for addressing a woman with wicked words, then whatsoever Bhikkhu shall take a seat with a woman, one man with one woman, in secret, on such a seat, and a believing woman, trustworthy in speech, who has seen (them so), shall lay it to his charge under one or other of two Rules, either under the Sanghadisesa, or under the Pakittiya Rule—let then that Bhikkhu, if he acknowledges that he has so sat, be dealt with (according to the circumstances reported) for a Sanghadisesa, or for a Pakittiya; or let that Bhikkhu be dealt with under that one of those two Rules under which the believing woman, trustworthy in speech, shall lay it to his charge. This rule relates to a matter undetermined.
Venerable Sirs, the two Rules regarding uncertain matters have been recited.
In respect of them I ask the venerable ones, 'Are you pure in this matter?'
A second time I ask the venerable ones, 'Are you pure in this matter?'
A third time I ask the venerable ones, 'Are you pure in this matter?'
The venerable ones are pure herein. Therefore do they keep silence. Thus I understand.
Here endeth the recitation of the Aniyatas.