Origin story

First sub-story

At one time when the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme. the monks from the group of six went to the nuns’ dwelling place and instructed the nuns from the group of six. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovadanti.

Soon afterwards, other nuns said to the nuns from the group of six, Bhikkhuniyo chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo etadavocuṁ—“Come, venerables, let’s go to the instruction.” “ethāyye, ovādaṁ gamissāmā”ti.

“There’s no need. The monks from the group of six came and instructed us right here.” “Yampi mayaṁ, ayye, gaccheyyāma ovādassa kāraṇā, ayyā chabbaggiyā idheva āgantvā amhe ovadantī”ti.

The nuns complained and criticized the monks from the group of six, Bhikkhuniyo ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could the monks from the group of six go and instruct the nuns at their dwelling place?” “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissantī”ti. Then those nuns told the monks. Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.

The monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could those monks do this?”… “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that you did this?” “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadathā”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish men, how could you do this? kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissatha. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—

Preliminary ruling

‘If a monk goes to the nuns’ dwelling place, and then instructs them, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks. Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards Mahāpajāpati Gotamī became sick. Tena kho pana samayena mahāpajāpati gotamī gilānā hoti. The senior monks went to see her Therā bhikkhū yena mahāpajāpati gotamī tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; and said, upasaṅkamitvā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavocuṁ—“ “We hope you’re bearing up, Gotamī, we hope you’re getting better?” kacci, gotami, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyan”ti?

“I’m not bearing up, venerables, and I’m not getting better. “Na me, ayyā, khamanīyaṁ na yāpanīyaṁ”. Please give me a teaching.” “Iṅghayyā, dhammaṁ desethā”ti.

“It’s not allowable for us to go and teach the nuns at their dwelling place.” And being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not teach her. “Na, bhagini, kappati bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo dhammaṁ desetun”ti kukkuccāyantā na desesuṁ.

Soon afterwards, after robing up in the morning, the Buddha took his bowl and robe and went to Mahāpajāpati Gotamī where he sat down on the prepared seat. Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena mahāpajāpati gotamī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi. He said to her, Nisajja kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca—“I hope you’re bearing up, Gotamī, I hope you’re getting better?” “kacci, gotami, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyan”ti?

“Previously, sir, the senior monks would come and teach me, “Pubbe me, bhante, therā bhikkhū āgantvā dhammaṁ desenti. and because of that I would be comfortable. Tena me phāsu hoti. But now that this has been prohibited by the Buddha, they don’t teach because they’re afraid of wrongdoing. Idāni pana—‘bhagavatā paṭikkhittan’ti, kukkuccāyantā na desenti. Because of that I’m not comfortable.” Tena me na phāsu hotī”ti.

After instructing, inspiring, and gladdening her with a teaching, the Buddha got up from his seat and left. Atha kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṁsetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—

“Monks, I allow you to go and instruct a sick nun at her dwelling place. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā gilānaṁ bhikkhuniṁ ovadituṁ.

And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—