四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 3.54

3.54

“If a bhikṣu sits in a secluded place with a bhikṣuṇī: prāyaścittika.” This full Prātimokṣa text contains four clauses: first, the transgressor; second, the bhikṣuṇī; third, the place; fourth, the offense. The first two clauses are self-evident. As for the third, “sitting in a secluded place”: the Vinaya states that there are two kinds of seclusion. The first is visual seclusion, such as dust, fog, smoke, clouds, or pitch darkness where one cannot see clearly. The second is auditory seclusion, extending to not hearing the sound of ordinary speech. As for “sitting”: there is one bhikṣuṇī and one monk with no other person present; hence it is called sitting in a secluded place. As for the fourth, “prāyaścittika”: this is the clause determining the offense. The Vinaya states that if a bhikṣu and a bhikṣuṇī sit in a secluded or open place with no third person as a witness, they incur a prāyaścittika. The Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā says that if the bhikṣu remains seated and the bhikṣuṇī gets up and sits down again, for as many times as she sits he incurs a prāyaścittika for each; if the bhikṣu gets up and sits down again, he incurs an offense for each; if both sit together, they formally commit an offense for each instance. The Sarvāstivāda Vinaya states that sitting in seclusion at a distance of ten feet incurs a prāyaścittika; at fifteen feet, a duṣkṛta; at twenty feet, no offense. The Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya states that if he sits in seclusion with one bhikṣuṇī, and after she invites him to eat she adds more food, each time she departs after adding food, he incurs a prāyaścittika. The bhikṣu should get up, but must not get up silently; lest the bhikṣuṇī become suspicious, he should say, “I wish to get up.” If not, the bhikṣuṇī should get up. If the bhikṣuṇī leaves, there is no offense. The Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā says that a secluded place is a place devoid of shame, where sexual misconduct can be committed; this is called a secluded place. The Vinaya states that if the witness is deaf or blind, they do not qualify as a witness, and he still incurs a prāyaścittika. If blind but not deaf, or deaf but not blind, it is a duṣkṛta. If both remain standing, it is a duṣkṛta. The bhikṣuṇī incurs a duṣkṛta. Question: Why is it lighter for the bhikṣuṇī? Answer: Sitting together with a superior fully allows him to instruct her; she is not free to leave, so her subjective fault is slight, which is why it is lighter. The Vinaya states that for non-offenses: if the bhikṣu has a companion; if there are two discerning persons who are neither blind nor deaf; if walking by he falls to the ground; if he is incapacitated by illness or physical constraint; or in perils to life or celibacy—all are permitted and do not constitute an offense.