- 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 giving robes 28. Cīvaradānasikkhāpada
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 was giving monastic robes to actors, dancers, acrobats, magicians, and musicians, saying, Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī naṭānampi naṭakānampi laṅghakānampi sokajjhāyikānampi kumbhathūṇikānampi samaṇacīvaraṁ deti—“Please praise me in public.” “mayhaṁ parisati vaṇṇaṁ bhāsathā”ti. And they did: Naṭāpi naṭakāpi laṅghakāpi sokajjhāyikāpi kumbhathūṇikāpi thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā parisati vaṇṇaṁ bhāsanti—“Venerable Thullanandā is a learned reciter; she’s confident and skilled at giving teachings. “ayyā thullanandā bahussutā bhāṇikā visāradā paṭṭā dhammiṁ kathaṁ kātuṁ; Give to her; work for her!” detha ayyāya, karotha ayyāyā”ti.
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā … tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can Venerable Thullanandā give monastic robes to householders?” … “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā agārikassa samaṇacīvaraṁ dassatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā does this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī agārikassa samaṇacīvaraṁ detī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can the nun Thullanandā do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī agārikassa samaṇacīvaraṁ dassati. 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 gives a monastic robe to a householder or a male wanderer or a female wanderer, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī agārikassa vā paribbājakassa vā paribbājikāya vā samaṇacīvaraṁ dadeyya, 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 householder: Agāriko nāma
- anyone who lives at home. yo koci agāraṁ ajjhāvasati.
- A male wanderer: Paribbājako nāma
- any male wanderer apart from Buddhist monks and novice monks. bhikkhuñca sāmaṇerañca ṭhapetvā yo koci paribbājakasamāpanno.
- A female wanderer: Paribbājikā nāma
- any female wanderer apart from Buddhist nuns, trainee nuns, and novice nuns. bhikkhuniñca sikkhamānañca sāmaṇeriñca ṭhapetvā yā kāci paribbājikasamāpannā.
- A monastic robe: Samaṇacīvaraṁ nāma
- a mark has been made is what is meant. kappakataṁ vuccati. If she gives it away, she commits an offense entailing confession. Deti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she gives one to her mother or father; mātāpitūnaṁ deti, if she lends one out; tāvakālikaṁ deti, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The eighth training rule is finished. Aṭṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.