- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on the dark of the night Rattandhakāravagga
The training rule on sitting down without asking permission 16. Anāpucchāabhinisīdanasikkhāpada
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 nun Thullanandā visited families after the meal, and she sat down and lay down on the seats without asking permission of the owners. Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī pacchābhattaṁ kulāni upasaṅkamitvā sāmike anāpucchā āsane abhinisīdatipi abhinipajjatipi. Because of Thullanandā, the people there had qualms, neither sitting nor lying down. Manussā thullanandaṁ bhikkhuniṁ hirīyamānā āsane neva abhinisīdanti na abhinipajjanti. They then complained and criticized her, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā visit families after the meal, and then sit down and lie down on the seats without asking the owners for permission?” “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā pacchābhattaṁ kulāni upasaṅkamitvā sāmike anāpucchā āsane abhinisīdissatipi abhinipajjissatipī”ti.
The nuns heard the complaints of those people. Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā act in this way?” … “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā pacchābhattaṁ kulāni upasaṅkamitvā sāmike anāpucchā āsane abhinisīdissatipi abhinipajjissatipī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī pacchābhattaṁ kulāni upasaṅkamitvā sāmike anāpucchā āsane abhinisīdatipi abhinipajjatipī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could the nun Thullanandā act in this way? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī pacchābhattaṁ kulāni upasaṅkamitvā sāmike anāpucchā āsane abhinisīdissatipi abhinipajjissatipi. 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 visits families after the meal, and then sits down or lies down on a seat without asking permission of the owners, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī pacchābhattaṁ kulāni upasaṅkamitvā sāmike anāpucchā āsane abhinisīdeyya vā abhinipajjeyya vā, 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.
- After the meal: Pacchābhattaṁ nāma
- when the middle of the day has passed, until sunset. majjhanhike vītivatte yāva atthaṅgate sūriye.
- A family: Kulaṁ nāma
- there are four kinds of families: the aristocratic family, the brahmin family, the merchant family, the worker family. cattāri kulāni— khattiyakulaṁ, brāhmaṇakulaṁ, vessakulaṁ, suddakulaṁ.
- Visits: Upasaṅkamitvāti
- goes there. tattha gantvā.
- Without asking permission of the owners: Sāmike anāpucchāti
- not having asked permission of a person in that family who is an owner and who has the authority to give. yo tasmiṁ kule manusso sāmiko dātuṁ, taṁ anāpucchā.
- A seat: Āsanaṁ nāma
- a place for sitting cross-legged is what is meant. pallaṅkassa okāso vuccati.
- Sits down: Abhinisīdeyyāti
- if she sits down on that seat, she commits an offense entailing confession. tasmiṁ abhinisīdati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
- Lies down: Abhinipajjeyyāti
- if she lies down on that seat, she commits an offense entailing confession. tasmiṁ abhinipajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Permutations
If she has not asked permission, and she does not perceive that she has, and she sits down or lies down on a seat, she commits an offense entailing confession. Anāpucchite anāpucchitasaññā āsane abhinisīdati vā abhinipajjati vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. If she has not asked permission, but she is unsure of it, and she sits down or lies down on a seat, she commits an offense entailing confession. Anāpucchite vematikā āsane abhinisīdati vā abhinipajjati vā, āpatti pācittiyassa. If she has not asked permission, but she perceives that she has, and she sits down or lies down on a seat, she commits an offense entailing confession. Anāpucchite āpucchitasaññā āsane abhinisīdati vā abhinipajjati vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If it is not a place for sitting cross-legged, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Pallaṅkassa anokāse āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she has asked permission, but she does not perceive that she has, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Āpucchite anāpucchitasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she has asked permission, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Āpucchite vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she has asked permission, and she perceives that she has, there is no offense. Āpucchite āpucchitasaññā, anāpatti.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she sits down or lies down after asking permission; āpucchā āsane abhinisīdati vā abhinipajjati vā, if a dedicated seat is permanently ready for her; dhuvapaññatte, if she is sick; gilānāya, if there is an emergency; āpadāsu, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The sixth training rule is finished. Chaṭṭhasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.