- 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 blocking 27. Paṭibāhanasikkhāpada
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 out-of-season robe-cloth had been given to the Sangha of nuns, Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhunisaṅghassa akālacīvaraṁ uppannaṁ hoti. and the Sangha gathered to share it out. Atha kho bhikkhunisaṅgho taṁ cīvaraṁ bhājetukāmo sannipati. Just then the nuns who were pupils of the nun Thullanandā were away. Tena kho pana samayena thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā antevāsiniyo bhikkhuniyo pakkantā honti. Thullanandā said to the nuns: Thullanandā bhikkhunī tā bhikkhuniyo etadavoca—“Venerables, there are nuns who are away. We cannot distribute the robe-cloth until they get back.” “ayye, bhikkhuniyo pakkantā, na tāva cīvaraṁ bhājīyissatī”ti. And she blocked the distribution of robe-cloth. Cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāhi. Since the robe-cloth could not be distributed until those nuns returned, other nuns left. Bhikkhuniyo na tāva cīvaraṁ bhājīyissatīti pakkamiṁsu. Then, when her pupils returned, Thullanandā had that robe-cloth distributed. Thullanandā bhikkhunī antevāsinīsu bhikkhunīsu āgatāsu taṁ cīvaraṁ bhājāpesi.
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā block a legitimate distribution of robe-cloth?” … “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā dhammikaṁ cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāhissatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī dhammikaṁ cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāhatī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could the nun Thullanandā do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī dhammikaṁ cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāhissati. 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 blocks a legitimate distribution of robe-cloth, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī dhammikaṁ cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāheyya, 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 legitimate distribution of robe-cloth: Dhammiko nāma cīvaravibhaṅgo
- it is distributed by a unanimous Sangha of nuns. samaggo bhikkhunisaṅgho sannipatitvā bhājeti.
- Blocks: Paṭibāheyyāti
- if she blocks it with the thought, “What can be done so that this robe-cloth isn’t distributed?”, she commits an offense entailing confession. kathaṁ imaṁ cīvaraṁ na bhājeyyāti paṭibāhati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Permutations
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, and she blocks it, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dhammike dhammikasaññā paṭibāhati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she blocks it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Dhammike vematikā paṭibāhati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she blocks it, there is no offense. Dhammike adhammikasaññā paṭibāhati, anāpatti.
If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammike dhammikasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammike vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, there is no offense. Adhammike adhammikasaññā, anāpatti.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she blocks it after demonstrating a benefit; ānisaṁsaṁ dassetvā paṭibāhati, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The seventh training rule is finished. Sattamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.