On one occasion when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Venerable Upananda the Sakyan went to the house of a friend and sat down in private alone with his wife. The husband complained and criticized him, “How could Venerable Upananda sit down in private alone with my wife?” The monks heard the complaints of that man, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized Upananda, “How could Venerable Upananda sit down in private alone with a woman?” … “Is it true, Upananda, that you did this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked him … “Foolish man, how could you do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling ‘If a monk sits down in private alone with a woman, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

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