Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha, the Master, was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Park. At that time Venerable Udāyī associated with and visited a number of families in Sāvatthī. When he saw a young man without a wife or a young woman without a husband, he would praise the young woman in the presence of the parents of the young man: “The young woman of such-and such a family is beautiful, intelligent, skilled, and diligent. She is suitable for your son.” They said: “Bhante, they don’t know who we are. If you would persuade them to give the girl, we would take her for our son.”

And he praised the young man in the presence of the parents of the young woman: “The young man of such-and-such a family is handsome, intelligent, skilled, and diligent. He is suitable for your daughter.” They said: “Bhante, they don’t know who we are, and we would be ashamed to speak to them for the sake of the girl. But if you would persuade them to ask us, we would give our girl to the young man.” In this way he arranged for the taking of a bride, for the giving of a bride, and for marriage.

At that time a certain former courtesan had a beautiful daughter. Then some Ājīvaka lay-disciples came from another village and said to that courtesan: “Lady, give your girl for our boy.” She replied, “Sirs, I don’t know who you are. And I will not give my only daughter to be taken to another village.”

Some people asked them, “Sirs, why have you come here?”

“We are here because we have asked that courtesan to give her daughter for our son, but she refused.”

“Why did you ask the courtesan? You should speak to Venerable Udāyī. He will persuade her.”

Those Ājīvaka disciples approached Venerable Udāyī and said: “Bhante, we have asked that courtesan here to give her daughter for our son, but she has refused. It would be good, bhante, if you would persuade her to give her daughter.”

Venerable Udāyī went to that courtesan and said: “Why didn’t you give your daughter to them?”

“I don’t know who they are, Venerable, and I will not give my only daughter to be taken to another village.”

“Give her to them. I know them.”

“If you know them, bhante, I will give her.”

She then gave her daughter to those Ājīvaka disciples, and they took her away. For a month they treated her like a daughter-in-law, but thereafter like a slave.

The girl sent a messenger to her mother, saying, “I am miserable and suffering; I have no happiness. For a month they treated me like a daughter-in-law, but after that like a slave. Come, mother, and take me away.”

The courtesan went to those Ājīvaka and said: “Sirs, do not treat my girl like a slave; treat her like a daughter-in-law.”

“We deal with the ascetic, not with you. Go away! We don’t know you.” Being dismissed she returned to Sāvatthī.

A second time the girl sent a messenger to her mother, saying, “I am miserable … take me away.”

Then that courtesan approached Venerable Udāyī and said: “Bhante, my girl is miserable and suffering; she has no happiness. They treated her like a daughter-in-law for a month, but then like a slave. Bhante, please tell them to treat her like a daughter-in-law.”

Venerable Udāyī then went to the Ājīvakas and said: “Sirs, do not treat this girl like a slave, but like a daughter-in-law.”

“We deal with the courtesan, not with you. An ascetic should not get involved. An ascetic should be a good ascetic. Go away! We don’t know you.” Being dismissed he returned to Sāvatthī.

For a third time that girl sent a messenger to her mother, saying, “I am miserable … take me away.” For a second time the courtesan approached Venerable Udāyī and said: “Bhante … tell them to treat her like a daughter-in-law.”

“When I went the first time, they dismissed me. Go yourself. I am not going.”

Then that courtesan complained and criticised him: “May Venerable Udāyī be miserable, may he suffer, may he have no happiness, just as my girl is miserable, suffering, and has no happiness, because of her nasty mother-in-law, nasty father-in-law, and nasty husband.”

And the girl, too, complained and criticised him in the same way, as did other women who were unhappy with their mothers-in-law, their fathers-in-law, and their husbands.

But those women who were happy with their mothers-in-law, their fathers-in-law, and their husbands wished him well: “May Venerable Udāyī be happy and well, just as we are happy and well, because of our good mothers-in-law, good fathers-in-law, and good husbands.”

The monks heard that some women were criticising him whereas others were wishing him well. Then the monks of few desires … complained and criticised him: “How can Venerable Udāyī act as a go-between?”

They informed the Master. The Master convened the Sangha and questioned Venerable Udāyī:

“Is it true, Udāyī, that you acted as a go-between?”

“It’s true, Master.”

The Buddha, the Master, rebuked him: “… Foolish man, how could you act as a go-between? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Preliminary ruling

“If a monk acts as a go-between on behalf of a man or on behalf of a woman, for marriage or for an affair, he commits an offence entailing suspension.”

In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.

Second sub-story

At one time a number of low-minded men who were amusing themselves in a pleasure grove sent a messenger to a prostitute: “Come, let us enjoy ourselves in the pleasure grove.”

She replied: “Sirs, I don’t know who you are. I have much property and many belongings, and I don’t wish to go outside the city. I won’t go.”

The messenger informed those men. Then a certain man said to them: “Sirs, why did you ask the prostitute? You should have spoken to Venerable Udāyī. He will persuade her.”

A certain lay-follower said: “Don’t say that. That’s not allowable for the Sakyan ascetics. Venerable Udāyī won’t do it.” And they made a bet on whether he would.

Those low-minded men approached Venerable Udāyī and said: “Bhante, while we were enjoying ourselves in the pleasure grove, we sent a messenger to such-and-such a prostitute, asking her to come, but she refused. Would you please persuade her?”

Venerable Udāyī went to that prostitute and said: “Why don’t you go to those men?”

“I don’t know them, bhante.”

“Go to them. I know them.”

“If you know them, bhante, I will go.” And those low-minded men took her to the pleasure grove.

Then that lay-follower complained and criticised him: “How can Venerable Udāyī act as a go-between for a one-off relationship?”

The monks heard it, and the monks of few desires complained and criticised him: “How can Venerable Udāyī act as a go-between for a one-off relationship?”

They rebuked Venerable Udāyī in many ways and then informed the Master. … “Is it true, Udāyī, that you acted as a go-between for a one-off relationship?”

“It’s true, Master.”

The Buddha, the Master, rebuked him: “… Foolish man, how could you act as a go-between for a one-off relationship? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Final ruling

“If a monk acts as a go-between on behalf of a man or on behalf of a woman, for marriage or for an affair, or even for a one-off relationship, he commits an offence entailing suspension.”

Definitions

A: whoever … Monk: … The monk ordained by a complete Sangha through a procedure of one motion and three announcements, which is unchallengeable and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.

If (he) acts as a go-between: sent by a woman he goes to a man or sent by a man he goes to a woman.

On behalf of a man: he informs a woman of a man’s intention.

On behalf of a woman: he informs a man of a woman’s intention.

For marriage: you will be a wife.

For an affair: you will be a mistress.

Or even for a one-off relationship: you will be in a short-term relationship.

He commits an offence entailing suspension … This is the name and designation of this class of offence. Therefore, too, it is said that he commits an offence entailing suspension.

Permutations

Permutations part 1

Summary

Definitions

The one protected by her mother: her mother protects, guards, wields authority, controls.

The one protected by her father: her father protects …

The one protected by her parents: her parents protect …

The one protected by her brother: her brother protects …

The one protected by her sister: her sister protects …

The one protected by her relatives: her relatives protect …

The one protected by her kinsmen: her kinsmen protect …

The one protected by her religion: her fellow believers protect …

The one otherwise protected: even when she is in the womb, there is a master who thinks, “This is mine”; and even when she is engaged for marriage.

The one protected by the threat of punishment: those who punish will punish anyone going to her.

The bought wife: having bought her with money, they live together.

The wife by choice: being dear to each other, they live together.

The wife through property: after giving wealth, they live together.

The wife through clothes: after giving clothes, they live together.

The wife through the bowl-of-water ritual: after touching a bowl of water, they live together.

The wife through removing the head pad: after taking down the head pad, they live together.

The slave wife: she is a slave and a wife.

The servant wife: she is a servant and a wife.

The captured wife: this refers to one brought back as a captive.

The short-term wife: this refers to a wife for one occasion.

Exposition

Acting as a go-between for a man and a single bought wife

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the bought wife of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her father … so-and-so protected by her parents … so-and-so protected by her brother … so-and-so protected by her sister … so-and-so protected by her relatives … so-and-so protected by her kinsmen … so-and-so protected by her fellow believers … so-and-so otherwise protected … so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the bought wife of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The setting out of the steps.

Acting as a go-between for a man and two bought wives

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her father and say, ‘Please be the bought wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her parents … so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her brother … so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her sister … so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her relatives … so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her kinsmen … so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her fellow believers … so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so otherwise protected … so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the bought wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The unconnected permutation series.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her parents and say, ‘Please be the bought wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her brother … so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her sister … so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her relatives … so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her kinsmen … so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her fellow believers … so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so otherwise protected … so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the bought wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the bought wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The linked permutation series, the basis in brief.

… A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the bought wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and so-and-so protected by her father … so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and so-and-so protected by her parents … so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and so-and-so protected by her brother … so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and so-and-so protected by her sister … so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and so-and-so protected by her relatives … so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and so-and-so protected by her kinsmen … so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and so-and-so protected by her fellow believers … so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and so-and-so otherwise protected and say, ‘Please be the bought wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The section based on one root item is finished.

Acting as a go-between for a man and more than two bought wives

The sections based on two root items, three root items, up to nine root items, are to be done in the same way.

Acting as a go-between for a man and ten bought wives

This is the section based on ten root items:

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her parents and so-and-so protected by her brother and so-and-so protected by her sister and so-and-so protected by her relatives and so-and-so protected by her kinsmen and so-and-so protected by her fellow believers and so-and-so otherwise protected and so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the bought wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The permutation series on bought wives is finished.

Acting as a go-between for a man and other kinds of wives

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the wife by choice of so-and-so … his wife through property … his wife through clothes … his wife through the bowl-of-water ritual … his wife through removing the head pad … his slave wife … his servant wife … his captured wife … his short-term wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

Acting as a go-between for a man and a single short-term wife

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her father and say … so-and-so protected by her parents … so-and-so protected by her brother … so-and-so protected by her sister … so-and-so protected by her relatives … so-and-so protected by her kinsmen … so-and-so protected by her fellow believers … so-and-so otherwise protected … so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the short-term wife of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The setting out of the steps.

Acting as a go-between for a man and two short-term wives

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her father and say, ‘Please be the short-term wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her parents … so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the short-term wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The unconnected permutation series.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her parents and say, ‘Please be the short-term wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her brother … so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the short-term wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the short-term wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The linked permutation series, the basis in brief.

… A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the short-term wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and so-and-so protected by her father … so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and so-and-so otherwise protected and say, ‘Please be the short-term wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The section based on one root item is finished.

Acting as a go-between for a man and more than two short-term wives

The sections based on two root items, etc., are to be done in the same way.

Acting as a go-between for a man and ten short-term wives

This is the section based on ten root items:

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her parents and so-and-so protected by her brother and so-and-so protected by her sister and so-and-so protected by her relatives and so-and-so protected by her kinsmen and so-and-so protected by her fellow believers and so-and-so otherwise protected and so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the short-term wives of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The permutation series on short-term wives is finished.

Acting as a go-between for a man and one protected by her mother: a single motive

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the bought wife of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the wife of so-and-so by choice … his wife through property … his wife through clothes … his wife through the bowl-of-water ritual … his wife through removing the head pad … his slave wife … his servant wife … his captured wife … his short-term wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The setting out of the steps is finished.

Acting as a go-between for a man and one protected by her mother: combinations of two motives

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the bought wife of so-and-so and his wife by choice.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the bought wife of so-and-so and his wife through property … his bought wife and his wife through clothes … his bought wife and his wife through the bowl-of-water ritual … his bought wife and his wife through removing the head pad … his bought wife and his slave wife … his bought wife and his servant wife … his bought wife and his captured wife … his bought wife and his short-term wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The unconnected permutation series.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the wife by choice of so-and-so and his wife through property … his wife by choice and his short-term wife … his wife by choice and his bought wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The linked permutation series, the basis in brief.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the short-term wife of so-and-so and his bought wife … his short-term wife and his wife by choice … his short-term wife and his captured wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The section based on one root item is finished.

Acting as a go-between for a man and one protected by her mother: combinations of more than two motives

The sections based on two root items, etc., are to be done in the same way.

Acting as a go-between for a man and one protected by her mother: ten motives

This is the section based on ten root items:

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the bought wife of so-and-so and his wife by choice and his wife through property and his wife through clothes and his wife through the bowl-of-water ritual and his wife through removing the head pad and his slave wife and his servant wife and his captured wife and his short-term wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The permutation series on the one guarded by her mother is finished.

Acting as a go-between for a man and one protected in various ways: any combination of motivations

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her father … so-and-so protected by her parents … so-and-so protected by her brother … so-and-so protected by her sister … so-and-so protected by her relatives … so-and-so protected by her kinsmen … so-and-so protected by her fellow believers … so-and-so otherwise protected … so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the bought wife of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

Acting as a go-between for a man and one protected by the threat of punishment: a single motive

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the wife by choice of so-and-so … his wife through property … his wife through clothes … his wife through the bowl-of-water ritual … his wife through removing the head pad … his slave wife … his servant wife … his captured wife … his short-term wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The setting out of the steps is finished.

Acting as a go-between for a man and one protected by the threat of punishment: combinations of two motives

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the bought wife of so-and-so and his wife by choice.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the bought wife of so-and-so and his wife through property … his bought wife and his short-term wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The unconnected permutation series.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the wife by choice of so-and-so and his wife through property … his wife by choice and his short-term wife … his wife by choice and his bought wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The linked permutation series, the basis in brief.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the short-term wife of so-and-so and his bought wife … his short-term wife and his wife by choice … his short-term wife and his captured wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The section based on one root item is finished.

Acting as a go-between for a man and one protected by the threat of punishment: combinations of more than two motives

The sections based on two root items, three root items, up to nine root items, are to be done in the same way.

Acting as a go-between for a man and one protected by the threat of punishment: ten motives

This is the section based on ten root items:

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the bought wife of so-and-so and his wife by choice and his wife through property and his wife through clothes and his wife through the bowl-of-water ritual and his wife through removing the head pad and his slave wife and his servant wife and his captured wife and his short-term wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The permutation series for the one protected by the threat of punishment is finished.

Incremental increase in both wives and motives

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and say, ‘Please be the bought wife of so-and-so.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her father and say, ‘Please be the bought wives of so-and-so and his wives by choice.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her parents and say, ‘Please be the bought wives of so-and-so and his wives by choice and his wives through property.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

In this way the increase of both items is to be done.

A man sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so protected by her mother and so-and-so protected by her father and so-and-so protected by her parents and so-and-so protected by her brother and so-and-so protected by her sister and so-and-so protected by her relatives and so-and-so protected by her kinsmen and so-and-so protected by her fellow believers and so-and-so otherwise protected and so-and-so protected by the threat of punishment and say, ‘Please be the bought wives of so-and-so and his wives by choice and his wives through property and his wives through clothes and his wives through the bowl-of-water ritual and his wives through removing the head pad and his slave wives and his servant wives and his captured wives and his short-term wives.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The increase of both items is finished.

Relationships arranged for a man

A man’s mother sends a monk … a man’s father sends a monk … a man’s parents sends a monk … a man’s brother sends a monk … a man’s sister sends a monk … a man’s relatives send a monk … a man’s kinsmen send a monk … a man’s fellow believers send a monk …

The abbreviation for a man is to be expanded.

The increase of both items is to be expanded as before.

Relationships arranged by the mother: a single motive

The mother of one protected by her mother sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say, ‘I have a wife for you who can be your bought wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The mother of one protected by her mother sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say, ‘I have a wife for you who can be your wife by choice … your wife through property … your wife through clothes … your wife through the bowl-of-water ritual … your wife through removing the head pad … your slave wife … your servant wife … your captured wife … your short-term wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The setting out of the steps is finished.

Relationships arranged by the mother: combinations of two motives

The mother of one protected by her mother sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say, ‘I have a wife for you who can be your bought wife and your wife by choice … your bought wife and your wife through property … your bought wife and your short-term wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The unconnected permutation series.

The mother of one protected by her mother sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say, ‘I have a wife for you who can be your wife by choice and your wife through property … your wife by choice and your short-term wife … your wife by choice and your bought wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The linked permutation series, the basis in brief.

The mother of one protected by her mother sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say, ‘I have a wife for you who can be your short-term wife and your bought wife … your short-term wife and your wife by choice … your short-term wife and your captured wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The section based on one root item is finished.

Relationships arranged by the mother: combinations of more than two motives

The sections based on two root items, three root items, up to nine root items, are to be done in the same way.

Relationships arranged by the mother: ten motives

This is the section based on ten root items:

The mother of one protected by her mother sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say, ‘I have a wife for you who can be your bought wife and your wife by choice and your wife through property and your wife through clothes and your wife through the bowl-of-water ritual and your wife through removing the head pad and your slave wife and your servant wife and your captured wife and your short-term wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The permutation series on the mother is finished.

Relationships arranged by various people: any combination of motivations

The father of one protected by her father sends a monk … the parents of one protected by her parents sends a monk … the brother of one protected by her brother sends a monk … the sister of one protected by her sister sends a monk … the relatives of one protected by her relatives send a monk … the kinsmen of one protected by her kinsmen send a monk … the fellow believers of one protected by her religion send a monk … the master of one otherwise protected sends a monk … the one who punishes in relation to one protected by the threat of punishment sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say, ‘I have a wife for you who can be your bought wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

Relationships arranged by the one who punishes: a single motive

The one who punishes in relation to one protected by the threat of punishment sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say, ‘I have a wife for you who can be your wife … your wife through property … your through clothes … your through the bowl-of-water ritual … your through removing the head pad … your slave wife for you … your servant wife … your captured wife … your short-term wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The setting out of the steps is finished.

Relationships arranged by the one who punishes: two motives

The one who punishes in relation to one protected by the threat of punishment sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say, ‘I have a wife for you who can be your bought wife and your wife by choice … your bought wife and your wife through property … your bought wife and your short-term wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The unconnected permutation series.

The one who punishes in relation to one protected by the threat of punishment sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say, ‘I have a wife for you who can be your wife by choice and your wife through property … your wife by choice and your short-term wife … your wife by choice and your bought wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The linked permutation series, the basis in brief.

The one who punishes in relation to one protected by the threat of punishment sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say, ‘I have a wife for you who can be your short-term wife and your bought wife … who can be your short-term wife and your wife by choice … who can be your short-term wife and your captured wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The section based on one root item is finished.

Relationships arranged by the one who punishes: more than two motives

The sections based on two root items, three root items, up to nine root items, are to be done in the same way.

Relationships arranged by the one who punishes: ten motives

This is the section based on ten root items:

The one who punishes in relation to one protected by the threat of punishment sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say, ‘I have a wife for you who can be your bought wife and your wife by choice and your wife through property and your wife through clothes and your wife through the bowl-of-water ritual and your wife through removing the head pad and your slave wife and your servant wife and your captured wife and your short-term wife.’” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The permutation series on the one who punishes is finished.

The one protected by her mother taking the initiative: a single motive

The one protected by her mother sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say that I will be his bought wife.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The one protected by her mother sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say that I will be his wife by choice … his wife through property … his wife through clothes … his wife through the bowl-of-water ritual … his wife through removing the head pad … his slave wife … his servant wife … his captured wife … his short-term wife.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The setting out of the steps is finished.

The one protected by her mother taking the initiative: two motives

The one protected by her mother sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say that I will be his bought wife and his wife by choice.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The one protected by her mother sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say that I will be his bought wife and his wife through property … his bought wife and his wife through clothes … his bought wife and his short-term wife.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The unconnected permutation series.

The one protected by her mother sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say that I will be his wife by choice and his wife though property … his wife by choice and his short-term wife … his wife by choice and his bought wife.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The linked permutation series, the basis in brief.

The one protected by her mother sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say that I will be his short-term wife and his bought wife … his short-term wife and his wife by choice … his short-term wife and his captured wife.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The section on one root item is finished.

The one protected by her mother taking the initiative: more than two motives

The sections based on two root items, etc., are to be done in the same way.

The one protected by her mother taking the initiative: ten motives

This is the section based on ten root items:

The one protected by her mother sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say that I will be his bought wife and his wife by choice and his wife through property and his wife through clothes and his wife through the bowl-of-water ritual and his wife through removing the head pad and his slave wife and his servant wife and his captured wife and his short-term wife.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The further permutation series on the one guarded by her mother is finished.

The ones protected by various people taking the initiative: any combination of motives

The one protected by her father sends a monk … the one protected by her parents sends a monk … the one protected by her brother sends a monk … the one protected by her sister sends a monk … the one protected by her relatives send a monk … the one protected by her kinsmen send a monk … the one protected by her religion send a monk … the one otherwise protected sends a monk … the one protected by the threat of punishment sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say that I will be his bought wife.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The one protected by the threat of punishment taking the initiative: a single motive

The one protected by the threat of punishment sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say that I will be his wife by choice … his wife through property … his wife through clothes … his wife through the bowl-of-water ritual … his wife through removing the head pad … his slave wife … his servant wife … his captured wife … his short-term wife.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The setting out of the steps is finished.

The one protected by the threat of punishment taking the initiative: two motives

The one protected by the threat of punishment sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say that I will be his bought wife and his wife by choice … his bought wife and his short-term wife.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The unconnected permutation series.

The one protected by the threat of punishment sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say that I will be his wife by choice and his wife though property … his wife by choice and his short-term wife … his wife by choice and his bought wife.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The linked permutation series, the basis in brief.

The one protected by the threat of punishment sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say that I will be his short-term wife and his bought wife … his short-term wife and his wife by choice … his short-term wife and his captured wife.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The section on one root item is finished.

The one protected by the threat of punishment taking the initiative: more than two motives

The sections based on two root items, etc., are to be done in the same way.

The one protected by the threat of punishment taking the initiative: ten motives

This is the section based on ten root items:

The one protected by the threat of punishment sends a monk, saying: “Bhante, go to so-and-so and say that I will be his bought wife and his wife by choice and his wife through property and his wife through clothes and his wife through the bowl-of-water ritual and his wife through removing the head pad and his slave wife and his servant wife and his captured wife and his short-term wife.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

The further permutation series on the one protected by the law is finished.
The whole successive permutation series is finished

Permutations part 2

If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension. If he accepts the mission, and finds out the response, but does not report back, he commits a serious offence. If he accepts the mission, but does not find out the response, yet reports back, he commits a serious offence. If he accepts the mission, but neither finds out the response, nor reports back, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If he does not accept the mission, yet finds out the response and reports back, he commits a serious offence. If he does not accept the mission, yet finds out the response, but does not report back, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If he neither accepts the mission, nor finds out the response, yet reports back, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If he does not accept the mission, nor finds out the response, nor reports back, there is no offence.

A man tells a number of monks, “Bhantes, find out about such-and-such a woman.” If they all accept the mission, all find out the response, and all report back, they all commit an offence entailing suspension.

A man tells a number of monks, “Bhantes, find out about such-and-such a woman.” If they all accept the mission, all find out the response, but only one reports back, they all commit an offence entailing suspension.

A man tells a number of monks, “Bhantes, find out about such-and-such a woman.” If they all accept the mission, but only one finds out the response, yet all report back, they all commit an offence entailing suspension.

A man tells a number of monks, “Bhantes, find out about such-and-such a woman.” If they all accept the mission, but only one finds out the response, and only one reports back, they all commit an offence entailing suspension.

A man tells a monk: “Bhante, find out about such-and-such a woman.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, and reports back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man tells a monk: “Bhante, find out about such-and-such a woman.” If he accepts the mission, finds out the response, but gets a pupil to report back, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man tells a monk: “Bhante, find out about such-and-such a woman.” If he accepts the mission, but gets a pupil to find out the response, and then reports back himself, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

A man tells a monk: “Bhante, find out about such-and-such a woman.” If he accepts the mission, but gets a pupil to find out the response, and the pupil then reports back on his own initiative, they both commit a serious offence.

Permutations part 3

If he fulfils the agreement when he goes, but not when he returns, he commits a serious offence.

If he does not fulfil the agreement when he goes, but he does when he returns, he commits a serious offence.

If he fulfils the agreement both when he goes and when he returns, he commits an offence entailing suspension.

If he neither fulfils the agreement when he goes nor when he returns, there is no offence.

Non-offences

There is no offence: if he is doing business for the Sangha, for a shrine, or for one who is ill; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

Case rulings

Mnemonic list

Case details

At one time a certain man told a certain monk, “Bhante, find out about such-and-such a woman.”

When he arrived he asked some people, “Where is such-and-such?”

“She is asleep, bhante.”

He became anxious, thinking, “The Master has laid down a training rule. Could it be that I have committed an offence entailing suspension?” He informed the Master.

“Monk, there is no offence entailing suspension, but there is an offence of bad conduct.”

At one time a certain man told a certain monk, “Bhante, find out about such-and-such a woman.”

When he arrived he asked some people, “Where is such-and-such?”

“She is dead, bhante.” … “She has gone out, bhante.” … “That’s not a woman, bhante.” … “That’s a female paṇḍaka, bhante.”

He became anxious …

“Monk, there is no offence entailing suspension, but there is an offence of bad conduct.”

At one time a certain woman, having quarrelled with her husband, went to her mother’s house. A monk who was supported by that family reconciled them. He became anxious …

“Were they divorced, monk?”

“They were not divorced, Master.”

“There is no offence when they are not divorced.”

At one time a certain monk acted as a go-between for paṇḍakas. He became anxious …

“Monk, there is no offence entailing suspension, but there is a serious offence.”

The fifth training rule on acting as a go-between is finished.