- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing suspension Saṅghādisesakaṇḍa
The training rule on bad behavior 12. Pāpasamācārasikkhāpada
Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At that time the nuns who were the pupils of the nun Thullanandā were socializing and behaving badly, had a bad reputation, and were harassing the Sangha of nuns and hiding each other’s offenses. Tena kho pana samayena thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā antevāsikā bhikkhuniyo saṁsaṭṭhā viharanti pāpācārā pāpasaddā pāpasilokā, bhikkhunisaṅghassa vihesikā, aññamaññissā vajjappaṭicchādikā.
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns behave in this way?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo saṁsaṭṭhā viharissanti pāpācārā pāpasaddā pāpasilokā bhikkhunisaṅghassa vihesikā aññamaññissā vajjappaṭicchādikā”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns are behaving like this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo saṁsaṭṭhā viharanti pāpācārā pāpasaddā pāpasilokā bhikkhunisaṅghassa vihesikā aññamaññissā vajjappaṭicchādikā”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can nuns behave in this way? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo saṁsaṭṭhā viharissanti pāpācārā pāpasaddā pāpasilokā, bhikkhunisaṅghassa vihesikā, aññamaññissā vajjappaṭicchādikā. 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 nuns socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses, “Bhikkhuniyo paneva saṁsaṭṭhā viharanti pāpācārā pāpasaddā pāpasilokā, bhikkhunisaṅghassa vihesikā, aññamaññissā vajjappaṭicchādikā. then the nuns should correct them like this: Tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhunīhi evamassu vacanīyā—“Sisters, you socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. ‘bhaginiyo kho saṁsaṭṭhā viharanti pāpācārā pāpasaddā pāpasilokā, bhikkhunisaṅghassa vihesikā aññamaññissā vajjappaṭicchādikā. Be secluded, Venerables. The Sangha praises seclusion for the Sisters.” Viviccathāyye. Vivekaññeva bhaginīnaṁ saṅgho vaṇṇetī’ti. If those nuns still continue as before, the nuns should press them up to three times to make them stop. Evañca tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhunīhi vuccamānā tatheva paggaṇheyyuṁ, tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhunīhi yāvatatiyaṁ samanubhāsitabbā tassa paṭinissaggāya. If they then stop, all is well. Yāvatatiyañce samanubhāsīyamānā taṁ paṭinissajjeyyuṁ, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ; If they do not stop, then after the third announcement those nuns too have committed an offense entailing sending away and suspension.’” no ce paṭinissajjeyyuṁ, imāpi bhikkhuniyo yāvatatiyakaṁ dhammaṁ āpannā nissāraṇīyaṁ saṅghādisesan”ti.
Definitions
- Nuns: Bhikkhuniyo panevāti
- what is meant is that they are fully ordained. upasampannāyo vuccanti.
- Socialize: Saṁsaṭṭhā viharantīti
- they socialize with improper bodily and verbal action. saṁsaṭṭhā nāma ananulomikena kāyikavācasikena saṁsaṭṭhā viharanti.
- Behave badly: Pāpācārāti
- having bad behavior. pāpakena ācārena samannāgatā.
- Have a bad reputation: Pāpasaddāti
- a bad reputation has spread about them. pāpakena kittisaddena abbhuggatā.
- Are notorious: Pāpasilokāti
- they make a living by means of a bad and wrong livelihood. pāpakena micchājīvena jīvitaṁ kappenti.
- Harass the Sangha of nuns: Bhikkhunisaṅghassa vihesikāti
- they object on each other’s behalf when a legal procedure is being carried out against them. aññamaññissā kamme karīyamāne paṭikkosanti.
- Hide each other’s offenses: Aññamaññissā vajjappaṭicchādikāti
- they hide one another’s offenses. aññamaññaṁ vajjaṁ paṭicchādenti.
- Them: Tā bhikkhuniyoti
- those nuns who socialize. yā tā saṁsaṭṭhā bhikkhuniyo.
- The nuns: Bhikkhunīhīti
other nuns who see it or hear about it. They should correct them like this: aññāhi bhikkhunīhi. Yā passanti yā suṇanti tāhi vattabbā—
“Sisters, you socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. “bhaginiyo kho saṁsaṭṭhā viharanti pāpācārā pāpasaddā pāpasilokā, bhikkhunisaṅghassa vihesikā, aññamaññissā vajjappaṭicchādikā. Be secluded, Venerables. The Sangha praises seclusion for the Sisters.” Viviccathāyye. Vivekaññeva bhaginīnaṁ saṅgho vaṇṇetī”ti.
And they should correct them a second Dutiyampi vattabbā. and a third time. Tatiyampi vattabbā. If they stop, all is well. Sace paṭinissajjanti, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ; If they do not stop, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. no ce paṭinissajjanti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If those who hear about it do not say anything, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. Sutvā na vadanti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Those nuns, even if they have to be pulled into the Sangha, should be corrected like this: Tā bhikkhuniyo saṅghamajjhampi ākaḍḍhitvā vattabbā—
“Sisters, you socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. “bhaginiyo kho saṁsaṭṭhā viharanti pāpācārā pāpasaddā pāpasilokā, bhikkhunisaṅghassa vihesikā, aññamaññissā vajjappaṭicchādikā. Be secluded, Venerables. The Sangha praises seclusion for the Sisters.” Viviccathāyye. Vivekaññeva bhaginīnaṁ saṅgho vaṇṇetī”ti.
They should correct them a second Dutiyampi vattabbā. and a third time. Tatiyampi vattabbā. If they stop, all is well. Sace paṭinissajjanti, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ; If they do not stop, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. no ce paṭinissajjanti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
- Should press them: Tā bhikkhuniyo samanubhāsitabbā.
“And, monks, they should be pressed like this. Evañca pana, bhikkhave, samanubhāsitabbā. A competent and capable nun should inform the Sangha: Byattāya bhikkhuniyā paṭibalāya saṅgho ñāpetabbo—
‘Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. “Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho. The nuns so-and-so and so-and-so socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. Itthannāmā ca itthannāmā ca bhikkhuniyo saṁsaṭṭhā viharanti pāpācārā pāpasaddā pāpasilokā, bhikkhunisaṅghassa vihesikā, aññamaññissā vajjappaṭicchādikā. And they keep on doing it. Tā taṁ vatthuṁ na paṭinissajjanti. If the Sangha is ready, it should press them to make them stop. Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ, saṅgho itthannāmañca itthannāmañca bhikkhuniyo samanubhāseyya tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya. This is the motion. Esā ñatti.
Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho. The nuns so-and-so and so-and-so socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. Itthannāmā ca itthannāmā ca bhikkhuniyo saṁsaṭṭhā viharanti pāpācārā pāpasaddā pāpasilokā, bhikkhunisaṅghassa vihesikā, aññamaññissā vajjappaṭicchādikā. And they keep on doing it. Tā taṁ vatthuṁ na paṭinissajjanti. The Sangha presses them to make them stop. Saṅgho itthannāmañca itthannāmañca bhikkhuniyo samanubhāsati tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya. Any nun who approves of pressing the nuns so-and-so and so-and-so to make them stop should remain silent. Yassā ayyāya khamati itthannāmāya ca itthannāmāya ca bhikkhunīnaṁ samanubhāsanā tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya, sā tuṇhassa; Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up. yassā nakkhamati, sā bhāseyya.
For the second time I speak on this matter … Dutiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi …pe… For the third time I speak on this matter … tatiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi …pe….
The Sangha has pressed the nuns so-and-so and so-and-so to stop. Samanubhaṭṭhā saṅghena, itthannāmā ca itthannāmā ca bhikkhuniyo tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.’” Khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmī”ti.
After the motion, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ, After each of the first two announcements, they commit a serious offense. dvīhi kammavācāhi thullaccayā, When the last announcement is finished, they commit an offense entailing suspension. kammavācāpariyosāne āpatti saṅghādisesassa. If they commit the offense entailing suspension, the offense of wrong conduct and the serious offenses are annulled. Saṅghādisesaṁ ajjhāpajjantīnaṁ ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ dvīhi kammavācāhi thullaccayā paṭippassambhanti. Two or three may be pressed together, but not more than that. Dve tisso ekato samanubhāsitabbā. Tatuttari na samanubhāsitabbā.
- Those nuns too: Imāpi bhikkhuniyoti
- this is said with reference to the preceding offenses. purimāyo upādāya vuccanti.
- After the third announcement: Yāvatatiyakanti
- there is an offense when they have been pressed for the third time, not as soon as the misconduct has been committed. yāvatatiyaṁ samanubhāsanāya āpajjanti, na saha vatthujjhācārā.
- Entailing sending away: Nissāraṇīyanti
- they are sent away from the Sangha. saṅghamhā nissārīyati.
- Suspension: Saṅghādisesoti
- … Therefore, too, it is called an offense entailing suspension. …pe… tenapi vuccati saṅghādisesoti.
Permutations
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and they perceive it as such, and they do not stop, they commit an offense entailing suspension. Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññā na paṭinissajjanti, āpatti saṅghādisesassa. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but they are unsure of it, and they do not stop, they commit an offense entailing suspension. Dhammakamme vematikā na paṭinissajjanti, āpatti saṅghādisesassa. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but they perceive it as illegitimate, and they do not stop, they commit an offense entailing suspension. Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññā na paṭinissajjanti, āpatti saṅghādisesassa.
If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but they perceive it as legitimate, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but they are unsure of it, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and they perceive it as such, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if they have not been pressed; asamanubhāsantīnaṁ, if they stop; paṭinissajjantīnaṁ, if they are insane; ummattikānaṁ, if they are the first offenders. ādikammikānanti.
The twelfth offense entailing suspension is finished. Navamasaṅghādisesasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.