Vinaya Pitaka - Monastic Rules
Bhikkhu Vibhanga - Pācittiya 23: The Training Rule on Nuns’ Dwelling Places.
- Translated from the Pali by Brahmali Bhikkhu.
Origin story
First sub-story
1
At one time the Buddha, the Master, was staying in the Sakyan country at Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery. At that time monks from the group of six went to the nuns’ dwelling place and instructed the nuns belonging to the group of six.
Soon afterwards, the nuns said to those nuns from the group of six: “Come, venerables, let’s go to the instruction."
“There’s no need; the venerables from the group of six came and instructed us right here."
The nuns complained and criticised those monks from the group of six: “How can those monks from the group of six go and instruct the nuns at their dwelling place?" And those nuns informed the monks.
2 The monks of few desires … complained and criticised those monks: “How can those monks from the group of six go and instruct the nuns at their dwelling place?" … “Is it true, monks, that you do this?" “It’s true, Master." The Buddha, the Master, criticised them: “ … Foolish men, how can you go and instruct the nuns at their dwelling place? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Preliminary ruling
3 “If a monk goes to a nun’s dwelling place, and then instructs her, he commits an offence entailing confession."
4 In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.
Second sub-story
5
Soon afterwards Mahāpajāpati Gotamī became sick. Some senior monks went to see her and said: “We hope you are bearing up, Gotamī, we hope you are getting better?"
“I am not bearing up, venerables, and I am not getting better. Please teach me the Dhamma."
“It’s not allowable for us to go and teach the Dhamma to a nun at her dwelling place." And being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not teach her.
Then, after dressing in the morning, the Master took his bowl and robe and went to Mahāpajāpati Gotamī, where he sat down on a prepared seat. He then said to her: “I hope you are bearing up, Gotamī, I hope you are getting better?"
“Previously, bhante, senior monks would come and teach me the Dhamma, and because of that I would be at ease. But now they do not teach because they are afraid of wrongdoing, saying, ‘It’s been prohibited by the Master.’ And because of that I am not at ease."
Then, after instructing, inspiring, and gladdening her with a Dhamma talk, the Master rose from his seat and departed. Soon afterwards the Master spoke on the Dhamma and addressed the monks: “Monks, I allow you to go and instruct a sick nun at her dwelling place. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:
Final ruling
6 “If a monk goes to a nun’s dwelling place and then instructs her, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. The appropriate reason is that the nun is sick."
Definitions
7 A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who is 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.
8 A nun’s dwelling place: where nuns stay for even a single night.
9 Goes to: goes there.
10Nuns: fully ordained by both Sanghas.
11Instructs: if he instructs about the eight important rules, he commits an offence entailing confession.
12Unless there is an appropriate reason: except at an appropriate time.
13Sick: the nun is not able to go to the instruction or to a meeting of the Sangha.
Permutations
14If she is fully ordained, and he perceives her as fully ordained, and he goes to her dwelling place and then instructs her, unless there is is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. If she is fully ordained, but he has doubts about it, and he goes to her dwelling place and then instructs her, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession. If she is fully ordained, but he perceives her as not fully ordained, and he goes to her dwelling place and then instructs her, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offence entailing confession.
15If he instructs her with another teaching, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If he instructs a nun ordained only on one side, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If she is not fully ordained, but he perceives her as fully ordained, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If she is not fully ordained, but he has doubts about it, he commits an offence of bad conduct. If she is not fully ordained, and he perceives her as not fully ordained, there is no offence.
Non-offences
16There is no offence: if there is an appropriate reason; if he gives a summary; if he conducts an examination; if he recites when asked to do so; if he asks a question; if he replies when asked a question; if he is speaking for the benefit of someone else and the nuns listen in; if it is to a trainee nun; if it is to a novice nun; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.
17The third rule, the training rule on nuns’ dwelling places, is finished.
1 tena samayena buddho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṃ nigrodhārāme. tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṃ upasankamitvā chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovadanti. bhikkhuniyo chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo etadavocuṃ— "ethāyye, ovādaṃ gamissāmā"ti. "yampi mayaṃ, ayye, gaccheyyāma ovādassa kāraṇā, ayyā chabbaggiyā idheva āgantvā amhe ovadantī"ti. bhikkhuniyo ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṃ upasankamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissantī"ti. atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṃ etamatthaṃ ārocesuṃ.
2 ye te bhikkhū appicchā … pe … te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— "kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṃ upasankamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissantī"ti … pe … "saccaṃ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhunupassayaṃ upasankamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadathā"ti? "saccaṃ, bhagavā"ti. vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhunupassayaṃ upasankamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissatha. netaṃ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṃ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
3 "yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhunupassayaṃ upasankamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadeyya, pācittiyan"ti.
4 evañcidaṃ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ paññattaṃ hoti.
5 tena kho pana samayena mahāpajāpati gotamī gilānā hoti. therā bhikkhū yena mahāpajāpati gotamī tenupasankamiṃsu; upasankamitvā mahāpajāpatiṃ gotamiṃ etadavocuṃ— "kacci, gotami, khamanīyaṃ, kacci yāpanīyan"ti? "na me, ayyā, khamanīyaṃ na yāpanīyaṃ". "inghayyā, dhammaṃ desethā"ti. "na, bhagini, kappati bhikkhunupassayaṃ upasankamitvā bhikkhuniyo dhammaṃ desetun"ti kukkuccāyantā na desesuṃ. atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṃ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena mahāpajāpati gotamī tenupasankami; upasankamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. nisajja kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṃ gotamiṃ etadavoca— "kacci, gotami, khamanīyaṃ, kacci yāpanīyan"ti? "pubbe me, bhante, therā bhikkhū āgantvā dhammaṃ desenti. tena me phāsu hoti. idāni pana— ‘bhagavatā paṭikkhittan’ti, kukkuccāyantā na desenti. tena me na phāsu hotī"ti. atha kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṃ gotamiṃ dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṃsetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi. atha kho bhagavā etasmiṃ nidāne etasmiṃ pakaraṇe dhammiṃ kathaṃ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi— "anujānāmi, bhikkhave, bhikkhunupassayaṃ upasankamitvā gilānaṃ bhikkhuniṃ ovadituṃ. evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṃ sikkhāpadaṃ uddiseyyātha—
6 "yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhunupassayaṃ upasankamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṃ. tatthāyaṃ samayo. gilānā hoti bhikkhunī— ayaṃ tattha samayo"ti. (23:72)
7 yo panāti yo yādiso … pe … bhikkhūti … pe … ayaṃ imasmiṃ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
8 bhikkhunupassayo nāma yattha bhikkhuniyo ekarattampi vasanti.
9 upasankamitvāti tattha gantvā.
10 bhikkhunī nāma ubhatosaṇghe upasampannā.
11 ovadeyyāti aṭṭhahi garudhammehi ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
12 aññatra samayāti ṭhapetvā samayaṃ.
13 gilānā nāma bhikkhunī na sakkoti ovādāya vā saṃvāsāya vā gantuṃ.
14 upasampannāya upasampannasaññī bhikkhunupassayaṃ upasankamitvā aññatra samayā ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa. upasampannāya vematiko bhikkhunupassayaṃ upasankamitvā aññatra samayā ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa. upasampannāya anupasampannasaññī bhikkhunupassayaṃ upasankamitvā aññatra samayā ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
15 aññena dhammena ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. ekatoupasampannāya ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. anupasampannāya upasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. anupasampannāya vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. anupasampannāya anupasampannasaññī, anāpatti.
16 anāpatti— samaye, uddesaṃ dento, paripucchaṃ dento, "osārehi ayyā"ti vuccamāno osāreti, pañhaṃ pucchati, pañhaṃ puṭṭho katheti, aññassatthāya bhaṇantaṃ bhikkhuniyo suṇanti, sikkhamānāya sāmaṇeriyā, ummattakassa, ādikammikassāti.