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Buddham Dhammam
  • 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 complaining about others 18. Paraujjhāpanakasikkhāpada

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 a nun who was a pupil of Bhaddā Kāpilānī attended on her with care. Tena kho pana samayena bhaddāya kāpilāniyā antevāsinī bhikkhunī bhaddaṁ kāpilāniṁ sakkaccaṁ upaṭṭheti. Bhaddā Kāpilānī said to the nuns, Bhaddā kāpilānī bhikkhuniyo etadavoca—“Venerables, this nun is attending on me with care. I’ll give her a robe.” “ayaṁ maṁ, ayye, bhikkhunī sakkaccaṁ upaṭṭheti, imissāhaṁ cīvaraṁ dassāmī”ti. Then, because of misunderstanding and a lack of proper reflection, that nun complained about Bhaddā Kāpilānī, Atha kho sā bhikkhunī duggahitena dūpadhāritena paraṁ ujjhāpesi—“Venerables, if I didn’t attend on her with care, she wouldn’t give me a robe.” “ahaṁ kirāyye, ayyaṁ na sakkaccaṁ upaṭṭhemi, na kira me ayyā cīvaraṁ dassatī”ti.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could a nun complain about someone else because of misunderstanding and a lack of proper reflection?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī duggahitena dūpadhāritena paraṁ ujjhāpessatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī duggahitena dūpadhāritena paraṁ ujjhāpetī”ti?

“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could a nun act in this way? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī duggahitena dūpadhāritena paraṁ ujjhāpessati. 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 complains about someone else because of misunderstanding and a lack of proper reflection, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī duggahitena dūpadhāritena paraṁ ujjhāpeyya, 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.
Because of misunderstanding: Duggahitenāti
because of wrong understanding. aññathā gahitena.
Because of a lack of proper reflection: Dūpadhāritenāti
because of wrong reflection. aññathā upadhāritena.
Someone else: Paranti
if she complains about one who is fully ordained, she commits an offense entailing confession. upasampannaṁ ujjhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Permutations

If the other person is fully ordained, and she perceives them as such, and she complains about them, she commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampannāya upasampannasaññā ujjhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the other person is fully ordained, but she is unsure of it, and she complains about them, she commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampannāya vematikā ujjhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the other person is fully ordained, but she does not perceive them as such, and she complains about them, she commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampannāya anupasampannasaññā ujjhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she complains about someone who is not fully ordained, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampannaṁ ujjhāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If the other person is not fully ordained, but she perceives them as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampannāya upasampannasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If the other person is not fully ordained, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampannāya vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If the other person is not fully ordained, and she does not perceive them as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampannāya anupasampannasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.

The eighth training rule is finished. Aṭṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.