- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on garlic Lasuṇavagga
The training rule on dancing and singing 10. Naccagītasikkhāpada
Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrel sanctuary. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. At that time in Rājagaha there was a hilltop fair, Tena kho pana samayena rājagahe giraggasamajjo hoti. and the nuns from the group of six went to see it. Chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo giraggasamajjaṁ dassanāya agamaṁsu. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns go to see dancing, singing, and music? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo naccampi gītampi vāditampi dassanāya gacchissanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.
The nuns heard the complaints of those people, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could the nuns from the group of six go to see dancing, singing, and music?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo naccampi gītampi vāditampi dassanāya gacchissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that those nuns did that?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo naccampi gītampi vāditampi dassanāya gacchantī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked them, Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could the nuns from the group of six do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo naccampi gītampi vāditampi dassanāya gacchissanti. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
Final ruling
‘If a nun goes to see dancing or singing or music, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī naccaṁ vā gītaṁ vā vāditaṁ vā dassanāya gaccheyya, pācittiyan”ti.
Definitions
- A: Yā panāti
- whoever … yā yādisā …pe…
- Nun: bhikkhunīti
- … The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case. …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti.
- Dancing: Naccaṁ nāma
- any kind of dancing. yaṁ kiñci naccaṁ.
- Singing: Gītaṁ nāma
- any kind of singing. yaṁ kiñci gītaṁ.
- Music: Vāditaṁ nāma
- any kind of music. yaṁ kiñci vāditaṁ.
If she is on her way to see it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Dassanāya gacchati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Wherever she stands to see it or hear it, she commits an offense entailing confession. Yattha ṭhitā passati vā suṇāti vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. Every time she goes beyond the range of sight and then sees it or hears it again, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dassanūpacāraṁ vijahitvā punappunaṁ passati vā suṇāti vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If she is on her way to see any one of the three, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ekamekaṁ dassanāya gacchati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Wherever she stands to see it or hear it, she commits an offense entailing confession. Yattha ṭhitā passati vā suṇāti vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. Every time she goes beyond the range of sight and then sees it or hears it again, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dassanūpacāraṁ vijahitvā punappunaṁ passati vā suṇāti vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she sees it or hears it while remaining in the monastery; ārāme ṭhitā passati vā suṇāti vā, if the dancing, singing, or music comes to the place where the nun is standing, sitting, or lying down; bhikkhuniyā ṭhitokāsaṁ vā nisinnokāsaṁ vā nipannokāsaṁ vā āgantvā naccanti vā gāyanti vā vādenti vā, if she sees it or hears it while walking in the opposite direction; paṭipathaṁ gacchantī passati vā suṇāti vā, if she goes there because there is something to be done and she then sees it or hears it; sati karaṇīye gantvā passati vā suṇāti vā, if there is an emergency; āpadāsu, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The tenth training rule is finished. Dasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.
The first subchapter on garlic is finished. Lasuṇavaggo paṭhamo.