- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing suspension Saṅghādisesakaṇḍa
The training rule on one who gives the full admission to a female criminal 2. Corīvuṭṭhāpikāsikkhāpada
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 in Vesālī the wife of a certain Licchavī man was unfaithful. Tena kho pana samayena vesāliyaṁ aññatarassa licchavissa pajāpati aticārinī hoti. He said to her, Atha kho so licchavi taṁ itthiṁ etadavoca—“Please stop. If you don’t, I’ll punish you.” “sādhu viramāhi, anatthaṁ kho te karissāmī”ti. But she did not listen. Evampi vuccamānā nādiyi.
Just then in Vesālī the Licchavī clan had gathered on some business. Tena kho pana samayena vesāliyaṁ licchavigaṇo sannipatito hoti kenacideva karaṇīyena. That Licchavī man said to them, Atha kho so licchavi te licchavayo etadavoca—“Sirs, please give me permission in regard to one of my wives.” “ekaṁ me, ayyo, itthiṁ anujānāthā”ti.
“What is it with her?” “Kā nāma sā”ti?
“She’s unfaithful. I wish to kill her.” “Mayhaṁ pajāpati aticarati, taṁ ghātessāmī”ti.
“You may go ahead.” “Jānāhī”ti.
When his wife heard Assosi kho sā itthī—that her husband wanted to kill her, “sāmiko kira maṁ ghātetukāmo”ti. she took their most valuable possessions and went to Sāvatthī. There she went to the monastics of other religions and asked for the going forth, Varabhaṇḍaṁ ādāya sāvatthiṁ gantvā titthiye upasaṅkamitvā pabbajjaṁ yāci. but they refused. Titthiyā na icchiṁsu pabbājetuṁ. She then went to the Buddhist nuns and again asked for the going forth, Bhikkhuniyo upasaṅkamitvā pabbajjaṁ yāci. but they too refused. Bhikkhuniyopi na icchiṁsu pabbājetuṁ. She then went to the nun Thullanandā, showed her the goods, and once again asked for the going forth. Thullanandaṁ bhikkhuniṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhaṇḍakaṁ dassetvā pabbajjaṁ yāci. Thullanandā took the goods and gave her the going forth. Thullanandā bhikkhunī bhaṇḍakaṁ gahetvā pabbājesi.
That Licchavī man then went to Sāvatthī in search of his wife. When he saw that she had been given the going forth as a nun, he went to King Pasenadi of Kosala Atha kho so licchavi taṁ itthiṁ gavesanto sāvatthiṁ gantvā bhikkhunīsu pabbajitaṁ disvāna yena rājā pasenadi kosalo tenupasaṅkami; and said, upasaṅkamitvā rājānaṁ pasenadiṁ kosalaṁ etadavoca—“Sir, my wife took my most valuable possessions and came to Sāvatthī. “pajāpati me, deva, varabhaṇḍaṁ ādāya sāvatthiṁ anuppattā. Please permit me to deal with her.” Taṁ devo anujānātū”ti.
“Well then, find her and then inform me.” “Tena hi, bhaṇe, vicinitvā ācikkhā”ti.
“I’ve seen her. She’s gone forth as a nun.” “Diṭṭhā, deva, bhikkhunīsu pabbajitā”ti.
“If she’s gone forth as a nun, there’s nothing that can be done. “Sace, bhaṇe, bhikkhunīsu pabbajitā, na sā labbhā kiñci kātuṁ. The Teaching of the Buddha is well-proclaimed. Let her practice the spiritual life for the full ending of suffering.” Svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, caratu brahmacariyaṁ sammā dukkhassa antakiriyāyā”ti.
Then that Licchavī man complained and criticized the nuns, Atha kho so licchavi ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—“How could the nuns give the going forth to a criminal?” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo coriṁ pabbājessantī”ti.
The nuns heard the complaints of that Licchavī man, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tassa licchavissa ujjhāyantassa khiyyantassa vipācentassa. and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā give the going forth to a criminal?” “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā coriṁ pabbājessatī”ti. The nuns told the monks. … Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī coriṁ pabbājetī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could the nun Thullanandā give the going forth to a criminal? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī coriṁ pabbājessati. 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, without getting permission from the king or the Sangha or a community or an association or a society, knowingly gives the full admission to a female criminal who is known as sentenced to death, then, except when it is allowable, that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī jānaṁ coriṁ vajjhaṁ viditaṁ anapaloketvā rājānaṁ vā saṅghaṁ vā gaṇaṁ vā pūgaṁ vā seṇiṁ vā aññatra kappā vuṭṭhāpeyya, ayampi bhikkhunī paṭhamāpattikaṁ dhammaṁ āpannā nissāraṇīyaṁ saṅghādisesan”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.
- She knows: Jānāti nāma
- she knows by herself or others have told her or she has told her. sāmaṁ vā jānāti aññe vā tassā ārocenti, sā vā āroceti.
- A female criminal: Corī nāma
- any female who has stolen anything worth five <i lang='pi' translate='no'>māsaka</i> coins or more is called “a female criminal”. yā pañcamāsakaṁ vā atirekapañcamāsakaṁ vā agghanakaṁ adinnaṁ theyyasaṅkhātaṁ ādiyati, esā corī nāma.
- Sentenced to death: Vajjhā nāma
- she has been sentenced to death because of her action. yaṁ katvā vajjhappattā hoti.
- Is known: Viditā nāma
- it is known to other people that she has been sentenced to death. aññehi manussehi ñātā hoti “vajjhā esā”ti.
- Without getting permission from: Anapaloketvāti
- without having asked permission. anāpucchā.
- The king: Rājā nāma
- where a king reigns, permission should be obtained from the king. yattha rājā anusāsati, rājā apaloketabbo.
- The Sangha: Saṅgho nāma
- what is meant is the Sangha of nuns, and permission should be obtained from that Sangha. bhikkhunisaṅgho vuccati, bhikkhunisaṅgho apaloketabbo.
- A community: Gaṇo nāma
- where a community governs, permission should be obtained from that community. yattha gaṇo anusāsati, gaṇo apaloketabbo.
- An association: Pūgo nāma
- where an association governs, permission should be obtained from that association. yattha pūgo anusāsati, pūgo apaloketabbo.
- A society: Seṇi nāma
- where a society governs, permission should be obtained from that society. yattha seṇi anusāsati, seṇi apaloketabbo.
- Except when it is allowable: Aññatra kappāti
- unless it is allowable. ṭhapetvā kappaṁ.
- Allowable: Kappaṁ nāma
- there are two allowable situations: she has gone forth with monastics of another religion or she has gone forth with other Buddhist nuns. dve kappāni— titthiyesu vā pabbajitā hoti aññāsu vā bhikkhunīsu pabbajitā. If, intending to give the full admission, she searches for a group, a teacher, a bowl, or a robe, or she establishes a monastery zone, then, except when it is allowable, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Aññatra kappā “vuṭṭhāpessāmī”ti gaṇaṁ vā ācariniṁ vā pattaṁ vā cīvaraṁ vā pariyesati, sīmaṁ vā sammannati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ. After each of the first two announcements, she commits a serious offense. Dvīhi kammavācāhi thullaccayā. When the last announcement is finished, the preceptor commits an offense entailing suspension, Kammavācāpariyosāne upajjhāyāya āpatti saṅghādisesassa. and the group and the teacher commit an offense of wrong conduct. Gaṇassa ca ācariniyā ca āpatti dukkaṭassa.
- That too: Ayampīti
- this is said with reference to the preceding offense. purimaṁ upādāya vuccati.
- An immediate offense: Paṭhamāpattikanti
- there is an offense as soon as the misconduct is committed, and no pressing is required. saha vatthujjhācārā āpajjati asamanubhāsanāya.
- Entailing sending away: Nissāraṇīyanti
- she is sent away from the Sangha. saṅghamhā nissārīyati.
- Suspension: Saṅghādisesanti
- … Therefore, too, it is called an offense entailing suspension. …pe… tenapi vuccati saṅghādisesoti.
Permutations
If she is a criminal, and the nun perceives her as such, and she gives her the full admission, except when it is allowable, she commits an offense entailing suspension. Coriyā corisaññā aññatra kappā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti saṅghādisesassa. If she is a criminal, but the nun is unsure of it, and she gives her the full admission, except when it is allowable, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Coriyā vematikā aññatra kappā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is a criminal, but the nun does not perceive her as such, and she gives her the full admission, except when it is allowable, there is no offense. Coriyā acorisaññā aññatra kappā vuṭṭhāpeti, anāpatti.
If she is not a criminal, but the nun perceives her as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Acoriyā corisaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is not a criminal, but the nun is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Acoriyā vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is not a criminal, and the nun does not perceive her as such, there is no offense. Acoriyā acorisaññā, anāpatti.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she gives her the full admission without knowing that she is a criminal; ajānantī vuṭṭhāpeti, if she gives her the full admission after getting permission; apaloketvā vuṭṭhāpeti, if she gives her the full admission when it is allowable; kappakataṁ vuṭṭhāpeti, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The second offense entailing suspension is finished. Dutiyasaṅghādisesasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.