- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on nakedness Naggavagga
The training rule on borrowed robes 25. Cīvarasaṅkamanīyasikkhāpada
Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. there was a nun who, after walking for almsfood, spread out her damp robe and entered her dwelling. Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā bhikkhunī piṇḍāya caritvā allacīvaraṁ pattharitvā vihāraṁ pāvisi. A second nun put on that robe and went to the village for alms. Aññatarā bhikkhunī taṁ cīvaraṁ pārupitvā gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi. Soon afterwards the first nun came out and asked the nuns, Sā nikkhamitvā bhikkhuniyo pucchi—“Venerables, have you seen my robe?” “apāyye, mayhaṁ cīvaraṁ passeyyāthā”ti? The nuns told her what had happened. Bhikkhuniyo tassā bhikkhuniyā etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. She then complained and criticized the second nun, Atha kho sā bhikkhunī ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—“How could a nun put on my robe without asking permission?” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī mayhaṁ cīvaraṁ anāpucchā pārupissatī”ti.
She told the nuns what had happened, Atha kho sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi. and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could a nun put on another nun’s robe without asking permission?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī bhikkhuniyā cīvaraṁ anāpucchā pārupissatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī bhikkhuniyā cīvaraṁ anāpucchā pārupatī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could a nun do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī bhikkhuniyā cīvaraṁ anāpucchā pārupissati. 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 wears a robe taken on loan, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī cīvarasaṅkamanīyaṁ dhāreyya, 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.
- A robe taken on loan: Cīvarasaṅkamanīyaṁ nāma
- if she wears any of the five robes belonging to a fully ordained nun, and it has not been given to her, nor has she asked permission to use it, she commits an offense entailing confession. upasampannāya pañcannaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ tassā vā adinnaṁ taṁ vā anāpucchā nivāseti vā pārupati vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Permutations
If the other person is fully ordained, and she perceives her as such, and she takes on loan a robe belonging to her and then wears it, she commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampannāya upasampannasaññā cīvarasaṅkamanīyaṁ dhāreti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the other person is fully ordained, but she is unsure of it, and she takes on loan a robe belonging to her and then wears it, she commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampannāya vematikā cīvarasaṅkamanīyaṁ dhāreti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the other person is fully ordained, but she does not perceive her as such, and she takes on loan a robe belonging to her and then wears it, she commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampannāya anupasampannasaññā cīvarasaṅkamanīyaṁ dhāreti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If the other person is not fully ordained, and she takes on loan a robe belonging to her and then wears it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampannāya cīvarasaṅkamanīyaṁ dhāreti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If the other person is not fully ordained, but she perceives her 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 her as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampannāya anupasampannasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if the robe has been given to her; sā vā deti, if she wears it after asking permission; taṁ vā āpucchā nivāseti vā pārupati vā, if her own robe has been stolen; acchinnacīvarikāya, if her own robe has been lost; naṭṭhacīvarikāya, if there is an emergency; āpadāsu, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The fifth training rule is finished. Pañcamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.