四分戒本疏卷第一．第二．第三 3.90

3.90

"If a bhikṣu, in an eating-family that possesses treasure, sits in a screened place, it is a prāyaścittika." The text has four clauses: first, the offender; second, the eating-family possesses treasure; third, the screened place; fourth, establishing the offense. In the text defining the marks, the first two and the last one are understood. Third, regarding "screened place": if it is screened by trees, walls, fences, palisades, garments, or other objects, it is therefore called a screened place. The offense here means that when the husband is absent, he sits alone with the wife in a screened place, and therefore commits a prāyaścittika. The Sarvāstivāda-vinaya-vibhāṣā says, "If the door is closed and there is no attendant (kappiyakāraka), it is a prāyaścittika. If the door is open and an attendant is outside, it is a duṣkṛta. If an attendant is inside the door, there is no offense." The Mahāsāṃghika Vinaya says, "Even if a mother, sister, older or younger attendant, or a sleeping, insane, or infant person is present, such a person is termed solitary and incapable of acting as a witness, so it falls into the same category of offense. If an attendant is continuously going back and forth while working, or if an attendant upstairs or downstairs can see them, there is no offense." The circumstances of exception are as in the preceding precept.