<p><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/ariyesako/layguide.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The Bhikkhus' Rules - A Guide for Laypeople</a>
says that the &quot;spirit of the rule&quot; is important:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>FAQ 4: &quot;It is mentioned in the Vinaya rules that a monk is not allowed to reside under the same roof with a woman. How does that apply to multistoried (condominiums, flats, apartments) and multi-compartment buildings (terrace houses), where the flats, terrace houses, share one roof?&quot;</strong></p>
<p><strong>A:</strong> This has become a complex question with various interpretations because of modern conditions. The spirit of the rule is very important — avoiding possibilities of intimacy — while the interpretation will depend on the monk and the circumstances. In countries without proper monasteries there will always have to be something of a compromise. (See Staying Together for a discussion of this.)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This is clearer if you read the previous 3 FAQs, for example,</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>FAQ 3: &quot;What is the rule if an eight-precepter unintentionally comes into [direct physical] contact with another lay person or eight-precepter or ten-precepter or monk or nun of opposite gender?&quot;</strong></p>
<p><strong>A:</strong> As with the preceding cases with bhikkhus, there is no fault if there is no wrong intention.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-12T20:42:38.383Z
2015-03-12T20:42:38.383Z
2020-06-17T09:56:10.877Z
ChrisW
<p>Happened to watch Yuttadhammo's video on Life in a day project and also understood that Monks are not allowed to stay in a place with a woman.
Was wondering how do they actually travel by air in a confined space for hours,worst case if they were assigned to be seated next to a female?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-12T19:10:08.463Z
I think an air travel is much different from staying in a house. They are not allergic to women, it is just that they want to avoid some situation, this is a rule Buddha created to protect the monks from having second thoughts... just that
konrad01
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-16T03:39:36.993Z
I heard they can fly through the air:">
Orion
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-03-17T14:18:47.087Z
Fly through the air? For real? Lol! Supernatural sounds more like it! =D
Sunset_Limited
<ethics><monk>
Buddhist Monk - Travel by air
# Buddhist Monk - Travel by air

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-03-12)

Happened to watch Yuttadhammo's video on Life in a day project and also understood that Monks are not allowed to stay in a place with a woman.
Was wondering how do they actually travel by air in a confined space for hours,worst case if they were assigned to be seated next to a female?

**Tags:** ethics, monk

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I think an air travel is much different from staying in a house. They are not allergic to women, it is just that they want to avoid some situation, this is a rule Buddha created to protect the monks from having second thoughts... just that  
> **username_2**: I heard they can fly through the air:">  
> **username_0**: Fly through the air? For real? Lol! Supernatural sounds more like it! =D  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-03-12. Score: 2

[The Bhikkhus' Rules - A Guide for Laypeople](http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/ariyesako/layguide.html)
says that the "spirit of the rule" is important:

> **FAQ 4: "It is mentioned in the Vinaya rules that a monk is not allowed to reside under the same roof with a woman. How does that apply to multistoried (condominiums, flats, apartments) and multi-compartment buildings (terrace houses), where the flats, terrace houses, share one roof?"**
>
> **A:** This has become a complex question with various interpretations because of modern conditions. The spirit of the rule is very important — avoiding possibilities of intimacy — while the interpretation will depend on the monk and the circumstances. In countries without proper monasteries there will always have to be something of a compromise. (See Staying Together for a discussion of this.)

This is clearer if you read the previous 3 FAQs, for example,

> **FAQ 3: "What is the rule if an eight-precepter unintentionally comes into [direct physical] contact with another lay person or eight-precepter or ten-precepter or monk or nun of opposite gender?"**
>
> **A:** As with the preceding cases with bhikkhus, there is no fault if there is no wrong intention.


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