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and it is not a sleeping place, there is no offense. 283. There is no offense if, in a large house, he sits without leaving the range of an arm's length from the back-support; if, in a small house, he sits without going beyond the main beam; if there is a second monk; if both have gone out; if both are free from passion; if it is not a sleeping place; if he is insane; if he is the first wrongdoer. The training rule concerning eating with food is finished, the third. 4. The training rule concerning a secluded and concealed place 284. At one time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was staying at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time, Venerable Upananda the Sakyan went to the house of a friend and sat down with his wife in a secluded and concealed seat. Then that man complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can Venerable Upananda sit down with my wife in a secluded and concealed seat?" The monks heard that man complaining, grumbling, and criticizing. Those monks who were of few desires... they complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can Venerable Upananda the Sakyan sit down with a woman in a secluded and concealed seat?" ...Is it true, Upananda, that you sat down with a woman in a secluded and concealed seat? "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him... "How can you, foolish man, sit down with a woman in a secluded and concealed seat? This, foolish man, is not for the conversion of the unconverted... And thus, monks, you should recite this training rule: 285. "Whatever monk sits down with a woman in a secluded and concealed seat, there is an offense of pācittiya." 286. "Whatever" means whoever, of whatever kind... "Monk" means... this is the monk intended in this context. "Woman" means a human woman, not a female yakkha, not a female peta, not an animal, even a girl born on that very day, much less an older one. "Together" is one. Secluded means secluded from sight, secluded from hearing. Secluded from sight means it is not possible to see if one lowers the eye, or raises the eyebrow, or raises the head. Secluded from hearing means it is not possible to hear ordinary talk. A concealed seat means a seat concealed by a wall, or a door, or a mat, or a screen, or a tree, or a pillar, or a bushel basket, or by anything whatsoever by which it is concealed. "Should sit down" means: If a woman is sitting, and a bhikkhu sits near or lies near, there is an offense of pācittiya. If a bhikkhu is sitting, and a woman sits near or lies near, there is an offense of pācittiya. Or if both are sitting, or both are lying, there is an offense of pācittiya. 287. If, with a woman, perceiving her as a woman, he sits down in a secluded, concealed seat, there is an offense of pācittiya. If, with a woman, being in doubt, he sits down in a secluded, concealed seat, there is an offense of pācittiya. If, with a woman, perceiving her as not a woman, he sits down in a secluded, concealed seat, there is an offense of pācittiya. If, with a female yakkha, or a female peta, or an eunuch, or an animal, or a woman possessed by a human, he sits down in a secluded, concealed seat, there is an offense of dukkaṭa. If, with a non-woman, perceiving her as a woman, there is an offense of dukkaṭa. If, with a non-woman, being in doubt, there is an offense of dukkaṭa. If, with a non-woman, perceiving her as not a woman, there is no offense. 288. There is no offense if any discerning man is a second person, if he stands, not sits, if he does not expect seclusion, if he sits preoccupied with something else, for one who is insane, for the first offender. The training rule concerning secluded, concealed seats is finished, the fourth. 5. The training rule concerning secluded sitting. 289. At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was at Sāvatthī. While he was staying in the Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time, the venerable Upananda the Sakyan went to a companion's house, and sat alone with his wife in a secluded place. Then that man complained, grumbled, and criticized— "How can the venerable Upananda sit alone with my wife in a secluded place!" The bhikkhus heard that man complaining, grumbling, and criticizing. Those bhikkhus who were of few wishes... they complained, grumbled, and criticized— "How can the venerable Upananda the Sakyan sit alone with a woman in a secluded place!"... "Is it true, Upananda, that you sat alone with a woman in a secluded place?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him... "How can you, foolish man, sit alone with a woman in a secluded place!" "This, foolish man, is not for the confidence of the unconfident..." "And thus, bhikkhus, you should recite this training rule:" 290. "Should any bhikkhu sit alone with a woman in a secluded place, it is an offense of expiation." 291. "Any" means whoever, whatever kind... "Bhikkhu" means... In this context, "bhikkhu" is intended here. "Woman" means a human female, not a female yakkha, not a female peta, not an animal, but one who is discerning and capable of understanding well-spoken and ill-spoken words, coarse and not coarse words. "With" means together. "Alone" means there is only the bhikkhu and the woman. "Secluded place" means secluded from sight, secluded from sound. Secluded from sight means it is not possible to see if one is winking, or raising an eyebrow, or nodding the head. Secluded from sound means it is not possible to hear ordinary conversation. "Should sit" means when the woman is seated, the bhikkhu is seated near or lying near, it is an offense of expiation. a. When a bhikkhu is sitting, a woman sits near or lies near, an offense of expiation. Or both are sitting, or both are lying, an offense of expiation. 292. With a woman, perceiving her as a woman, one sits alone with one woman in private, an offense of expiation. With a woman, doubtful, one sits alone with one woman in private, an offense of expiation. With a woman, perceiving her as not a woman, one sits alone with one woman in private, an offense of expiation. With a female yakkha, or a female peta, or a eunuch, or a human-figured animal-female, one sits alone with one in private, an offense of wrong-doing. With not a woman, perceiving her as a woman, an offense of wrong-doing. With not a woman, doubtful, an offense of wrong-doing. With not a woman, perceiving her as not a woman, no offense. 293. No offense if any discerning man is a second person, if he stands and does not sit, if he sits not expecting privacy, if he sits distracted, for one who is insane, for the first wrongdoer. The training rule on sitting in private is finished, the fifth. 6. The training rule on proper conduct. 294. At that time, the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling in Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, at the Squirrels' Feeding Place. At that time, the supporting family of the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan invited the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan for a meal. They also invited other bhikkhus for a meal. At that time, the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan, before the meal, was frequenting families. Then those bhikkhus said to those people, "Give us food, friends!" "Wait, sirs, until the venerable Upananda comes." A second time those bhikkhus said to those people, "Give us food, friends!" A third time those bhikkhus said to those people, "Give us food, sirs; before the time passes!" "Sirs, we prepared this food for the venerable Upananda. Wait, sirs, until the venerable Upananda comes." Then the Venerable Upananda the Sakyan the Sakyan, having visited families before the meal, came during the day. The monks did not eat to their satisfaction. Those monks who were of few wishes…etc… they complained, grumbled, criticized: ‘‘How can it be that Venerable Upananda the Sakyan, being invited for a meal, before the meal, visits families?’’…etc… ‘‘Is it true, Upananda, that being invited for a meal, before the meal, you visit families?’’ ‘‘It is true, Blessed One.’’ The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him…etc… ‘‘How can it be, foolish man, that being invited for a meal, before the meal, you visit families! This, foolish man, is not for the conversion of the unconverted…etc… And thus, monks, you should recite this training rule: ‘‘Whatever monk, being invited for a meal, before the meal, visits families, commits an offense of expiation.’’ Thus, this training rule was laid down by the Blessed One for the monks. 295.[mahāva. 277] Now at that time, a lay supporter family of Venerable Upananda the Sakyan sent food for the Sangha, saying: ‘‘It is to be given to the Sangha after showing it to Venerable Upananda.’’ Now at that time, Venerable Upananda the Sakyan had entered the village for alms. Then those people went to the monastery and asked the monks: ‘‘Where, sirs, is Venerable Upananda?’’ ‘‘Friend, Venerable Upananda the Sakyan has entered the village for alms.’’ ‘‘Sirs, this food is to be given to the Sangha after showing it to Venerable Upananda.’’ They reported this matter to the Blessed One. Then the Blessed One, on this occasion, in this connection, having given a Dhamma talk, addressed the monks: ‘‘Well then, monks, receive it and put it aside until Upananda comes.’’ Then Venerable Upananda the Sakyan— ‘‘The Blessed One has forbidden visiting families before the meal’’— after the meal, families… Having waited upon them, he returned during the day. The food had been put away. Those monks of few wishes... they complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can it be that the venerable Upananda, the Sakyan, goes about visiting families after mealtime?"... "Is it true, Upananda, that you go about visiting families after mealtime?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked him... "How can it be, foolish man, that you go about visiting families after mealtime! This, foolish man, is not for the conversion of the unconverted..." And thus, monks, you should recite this training rule: