- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on lying down Tuvaṭṭavagga
The training rule on making ill at ease 33. Aphāsukaraṇasikkhāpada
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 a learned reciter, and she was confident and skilled at giving teachings. Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī bahussutā hoti bhāṇikā visāradā paṭṭā dhammiṁ kathaṁ kātuṁ. Bhaddā Kāpilānī, too, was a learned reciter who was confident and skilled at giving teachings, and she was respected for her excellence. Bhaddāpi kāpilānī bahussutā hoti bhāṇikā visāradā paṭṭā dhammiṁ kathaṁ kātuṁ uḷārasambhāvitā. Manussā—Because of this, people visited Bhaddā Kāpilānī first and then Thullanandā. “ayyā bhaddā kāpilānī bahussutā bhāṇikā visāradā paṭṭā dhammiṁ kathaṁ kātuṁ uḷārasambhāvitā”ti bhaddaṁ kāpilāniṁ paṭhamaṁ payirupāsitvā, pacchā thullanandaṁ bhikkhuniṁ payirupāsanti. Overcome by jealousy, Thullanandā thought, Thullanandā bhikkhunī issāpakatā—“These ones, who are supposedly contented and have few desires, who are supposedly secluded and not socializing, are always persuading and convincing people.” And in front of Bhaddā Kāpilānī, she walked back and forth, stood, sat down, and lay down, and she recited and had others recite, and she rehearsed. “imā kira appicchā santuṭṭhā pavivittā asaṁsaṭṭhā yā imā saññattibahulā viññattibahulā viharantī”ti bhaddāya kāpilāniyā purato caṅkamatipi tiṭṭhatipi nisīdatipi seyyampi kappeti uddisatipi uddisāpetipi sajjhāyampi karoti.
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā intentionally make Bhaddā Kāpilānī ill at ease?” … “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā ayyāya bhaddāya kāpilāniyā sañcicca aphāsuṁ karissatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī bhaddāya kāpilāniyā sañcicca aphāsuṁ karotī”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 bhaddāya kāpilāniyā sañcicca aphāsuṁ karissati. 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 intentionally makes a nun ill at ease, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī bhikkhuniyā sañcicca aphāsuṁ kareyya, 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 nun: Bhikkhuniyāti
- another nun. aññāya bhikkhuniyā.
- Intentionally: Sañciccāti
- knowing, perceiving, having intended, having decided, she transgresses. jānantī sañjānantī cecca abhivitaritvā vītikkamo.
- Makes ill at ease: Aphāsuṁ kareyyāti—
- if, without asking permission, but thinking, “In this way she will be ill at ease,” she walks back and forth in front of her, or she stands, sits down, or lies down in front of her, or she recites, has others recite, or rehearses in front of her, she commits an offense entailing confession. “iminā imissā aphāsu bhavissatī”ti anāpucchā purato caṅkamati vā tiṭṭhati vā nisīdati vā seyyaṁ vā kappeti uddisati vā uddisāpeti vā sajjhāyaṁ vā karoti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Permutations
If the other person is fully ordained, and she perceives her as such, and she intentionally makes her ill at ease, she commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampannāya upasampannasaññā sañcicca aphāsuṁ karoti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the other person is fully ordained, but she is unsure of it, and she intentionally makes her ill at ease, she commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampannāya vematikā sañcicca aphāsuṁ karoti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the other person is fully ordained, but she does not perceive her as such, and she intentionally makes her ill at ease, she commits an offense entailing confession. Upasampannāya anupasampannasaññā sañcicca aphāsuṁ karoti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If the other person is not fully ordained, and she intentionally makes her ill at ease, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Anupasampannāya sañcicca aphāsuṁ karoti, 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, after asking permission and not desiring to make her ill at ease, she walks back and forth in front of her, or she stands, sits down, or lies down in front of her, or she recites, has others recite, or rehearses in front of her; na aphāsuṁ kattukāmā āpucchā purato caṅkamati vā tiṭṭhati vā nisīdati vā seyyaṁ vā kappeti uddisati vā uddisāpeti vā sajjhāyaṁ vā karoti, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The third training rule is finished. Tatiyasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.