This chapter examines the role of the monk as middleman in a domesticated, monastic environment, as reflected mostly in the Vinaya. Evidence is scanty, but a few passages identify specific kinds of mediation forbidden to monks. The tone of admonition indicates that what is forbidden must have been practised. A role as middleman is not the same as the mediatory role, but the negative aspects of it as laid down in the texts are deserving of attention because of the restrictions they would implicitly place on the mediatory role.

One significant example concerns the ubiquitous monk Udāyin, who is portrayed attempting to make a match linking two families, and is sitting down in a secluded place with the girl in question, a man, and a woman. A prominent woman in the area, Visākhā, found out about this. She came and spoke to Udāyin, saying: ‘Sir, this is not pleasing, it is not right, it is inappropriate for the master to sit with a woman – one man with one woman – on a secluded, comfortable seat. Although, sir, the master rightly has absolutely no ulterior motive, it is hard to convince people who are unconvinced.’ This uncompromisingly asserts that in certain respects monks were not to act as middlemen in local affairs and the example given is certainly of behaviour alien to the original ascetic ideal.