• Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
  • The Great Analysis Mahāvibhaṅga
  • The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
  • The subchapter on the instruction Ovādavagga

29. The training rule on had prepared 29. Paripācitasikkhāpada

Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrel sanctuary. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā rājagahe viharati veḷuvane kalandakanivāpe. At that time the nun Thullanandā was associating with a family from which she received a regular meal. Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī aññatarassa kulassa kulūpikā hoti niccabhattikā.

Now on one occasion the head of that family had invited some senior monks. Tena ca gahapatinā therā bhikkhū nimantitā honti. On the same day, the nun Thullanandā robed up in the morning, took her bowl and robe, and went to that family. And she asked the head of the family, Atha kho thullanandā bhikkhunī pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena taṁ kulaṁ tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṁ gahapatiṁ etadavoca—“Why have you prepared so much food?” “kimidaṁ, gahapati, pahūtaṁ khādanīyaṁ bhojanīyaṁ paṭiyattan”ti?

“’Cause, venerable, I’ve invited the senior monks.” “Therā mayā, ayye, nimantitā”ti.

“But who are those senior monks?” “Ke pana te, gahapati, therā”ti?

“Venerable Sāriputta, Venerable Mahāmoggallāna, Venerable Mahākaccāna, Venerable Mahākoṭṭhika, Venerable Mahākappina, Venerable Mahācunda, Venerable Anuruddha, Venerable Revata, Venerable Upāli, Venerable Ānanda, and Venerable Rāhula.” “Ayyo sāriputto ayyo mahāmoggallāno ayyo mahākaccāno ayyo mahākoṭṭhiko ayyo mahākappino ayyo mahācundo ayyo anuruddho ayyo revato ayyo upāli ayyo ānando ayyo rāhulo”ti.

“But why do you invite such inferior monks instead of the great ones?” “Kiṁ pana tvaṁ, gahapati, mahānāge tiṭṭhamāne ceṭake nimantesī”ti?

“Who are these great monks?” “Ke pana te, ayye, mahānāgā”ti? “Venerable Devadatta, Venerable Kokālika, Venerable Kaṭamodakatissaka, Venerable Khaṇḍadeviyāputta, and Venerable Samuddadatta.” “Ayyo devadatto ayyo kokāliko ayyo kaṭamodakatissako ayyo khaṇḍadeviyā putto ayyo samuddadatto”ti.

While this conversation was taking place, the senior monks entered. Ayaṁ carahi thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā antarā kathā vippakatā, atha te therā bhikkhū pavisiṁsu. Thullanandā said, “Is it true that you’ve invited these great monks?” “Saccaṁ mahānāgā kho tayā, gahapati, nimantitā”ti.

“Just before you called them inferior and now you call them great.” “Idāneva kho tvaṁ, ayye, ceṭake akāsi; idāni mahānāge”ti. And that lay person threw her out of the house and made an end of her regular meal. Gharato ca nikkaḍḍhi, niccabhattañca pacchindi.

The monks of few desires complained and criticized Devadatta, Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Devadatta eat almsfood knowing that a nun had it prepared?” … “kathañhi nāma devadatto jānaṁ bhikkhuniparipācitaṁ piṇḍapātaṁ bhuñjissatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, Devadatta, that you did this?” “saccaṁ kira tvaṁ, devadatta, jānaṁ bhikkhuniparipācitaṁ piṇḍapātaṁ bhuñjasī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked him … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “Foolish man, how could you do this? kathañhi nāma tvaṁ, moghapurisa, jānaṁ bhikkhuniparipācitaṁ piṇḍapātaṁ bhuñjissasi. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, moghapurisa, 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 eats almsfood knowing that a nun had it prepared, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu jānaṁ bhikkhuniparipācitaṁ piṇḍapātaṁ bhuñjeyya, 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 a monk who had earlier left Rājagaha returned to see his family. Tena kho pana samayena aññataro bhikkhu rājagahā pabbajito ñātikulaṁ agamāsi. Because it was a long time since he had last returned, people prepared food for him respectfully. Manussā—“cirassampi bhadanto āgato”ti sakkaccaṁ bhattaṁ akaṁsu. And the nun who was associating with that family said to them, Tassa kulassa kulūpikā bhikkhunī te manusse etadavoca—“Give food to that monk.” “dethayyassa, āvuso, bhattan”ti. The monk thought, Atha kho so bhikkhu—“The Buddha has prohibited us from eating almsfood knowing that a nun had it prepared,” and being afraid of wrongdoing, he did not accept it. “bhagavatā paṭikkhittaṁ jānaṁ bhikkhuniparipācitaṁ piṇḍapātaṁ bhuñjitun”ti kukkuccāyanto na paṭiggahesi. And because he was unable to walk for alms, he missed his meal. Nāsakkhi piṇḍāya carituṁ, chinnabhatto ahosi.

After returning to the monastery, he told the monks what had happened, Atha kho so bhikkhu ārāmaṁ gantvā bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi. and they in turn told the Buddha. Bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.

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 eat almsfood knowing that a nun had it prepared if the householder had intended to prepare it anyway. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, pubbe gihisamārambhe jānaṁ bhikkhuniparipācitaṁ piṇḍapātaṁ bhuñjituṁ.

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

Final ruling

‘If a monk eats almsfood knowing that a nun had it prepared, except if the householder had intended to prepare it anyway, he commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yo pana bhikkhu jānaṁ bhikkhuniparipācitaṁ piṇḍapātaṁ bhuñjeyya, aññatra pubbe gihisamārambhā, pācittiyan”ti.

Definitions

A: Yo panāti
whoever … yo yādiso …pe…
Monk: bhikkhūti
… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case. …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
Knowing: Jānāti nāma
he knows by himself or others have told him or the nun has told him. sāmaṁ vā jānāti aññe vā tassa ārocenti sā vā āroceti.
A nun: Bhikkhunī nāma
she has been given the full ordination by both Sanghas. ubhatosaṅghe upasampannā.
Has it prepared: Paripāceti nāma
if she says to those who do not already want to give or want to prepare, “This monk is a reciter,” “This monk is learned,” “This monk is an expert on the discourses,” “This monk is an expert on the Monastic Law,” “This monk is an expounder of the Teaching;” “Give to this monk,” “Prepare for this monk”—this is called “has it prepared”. pubbe adātukāmānaṁ akattukāmānaṁ— “ayyo bhāṇako, ayyo bahussuto, ayyo suttantiko, ayyo vinayadharo, ayyo dhammakathiko, detha ayyassa, karotha ayyassā”ti esā paripāceti nāma.
Almsfood: Piṇḍapāto nāma
any of the five cooked foods. pañcannaṁ bhojanānaṁ aññataraṁ bhojanaṁ.
Except if the householder had intended to prepare it anyway: Aññatra pubbe gihisamārambhāti
unless the householder had intended to prepare it. ṭhapetvā gihisamārambhaṁ.
The householder had intended to prepare it: Gihisamārambho nāma
they are relatives or they have invited or they give regularly. ñātakā vā honti pavāritā vā pakatipaṭiyattaṁ vā.

If he receives it with the intention of eating it, except if the householder had intended to prepare it anyway, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Aññatra pubbe gihisamārambhā bhuñjissāmīti paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. For every mouthful swallowed, he commits an offense entailing confession. Ajjhohāre ajjhohāre, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Permutations

If a nun had it prepared, and he perceives it as such, and he eats it, except if the householder had intended to prepare it anyway, he commits an offense entailing confession. Paripācite paripācitasaññī bhuñjati, aññatra pubbe gihisamārambhā, āpatti pācittiyassa. If a nun had it prepared, but he is unsure of it, and he eats it, except if the householder had intended to prepare it anyway, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Paripācite vematiko bhuñjati, aññatra pubbe gihisamārambhā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If a nun had it prepared, but he does not perceive it as such, and he eats it, except if the householder had intended to prepare it anyway, there is no offense. Paripācite aparipācitasaññī bhuñjati, aññatra pubbe gihisamārambhā, anāpatti.

If a nun who is fully ordained only on one side had it prepared, and he eats it, except if the householder had intended to prepare it anyway, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ekatoupasampannāya paripācitaṁ bhuñjati, aññatra pubbe gihisamārambhā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If a nun did not have it prepared, but he perceives it as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Aparipācite paripācitasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If a nun did not have it prepared, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. Aparipācite vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If a nun did not have it prepared, and he does not perceive it as such, there is no offense. Aparipācite aparipācitasaññī, anāpatti.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if the householder had intended to prepare it anyway; pubbe gihisamārambhe, if a trainee nun has it prepared; sikkhamānā paripāceti, if a novice nun has it prepared; sāmaṇerī paripāceti, if it is anything apart from the five cooked foods; pañca bhojanāni ṭhapetvā sabbattha anāpatti, if he is insane; ummattakassa, if he is the first offender. ādikammikassāti.

The training rule on had prepared, the ninth, is finished. Paripācitasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ navamaṁ.