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 socializing 36. Saṁsaṭṭhasikkhāpada

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. the nun Caṇḍakāḷī was socializing with householders and their offspring. Tena kho pana samayena caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can Venerable Caṇḍakāḷī socialize with householders and their offspring?” … “kathañhi nāma ayyā caṇḍakāḷī saṁsaṭṭhā viharissati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Caṇḍakāḷī does this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can the nun Caṇḍakāḷī do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharissati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi. 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 is socializing with a householder or a householder’s offspring, the nuns should correct her like this: “Yā pana bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā vihareyya gahapatinā vā gahapatiputtena vā sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi evamassa vacanīyā—“Venerable, don’t socialize with householders or householders’ offspring. Be secluded, Venerable. The Sangha praises seclusion for the Sisters.” ‘māyye, saṁsaṭṭhā vihari gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi. Viviccāyye; vivekaññeva bhaginiyā saṅgho vaṇṇetī’ti. If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop. Evañca sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi vuccamānā tatheva paggaṇheyya, sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi yāvatatiyaṁ samanubhāsitabbā tassa paṭinissaggāya. If she then stops, all is well. If she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” Yāvatatiyañce samanubhāsīyamānā taṁ paṭinissajjeyya, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ; no ce paṭinissajjeyya, 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.

Socializing: Saṁsaṭṭhā nāma

she socializes with improper bodily and verbal actions. ananulomikena kāyikavācasikena saṁsaṭṭhā.

A householder: Gahapati nāma

anyone who lives at home. yo koci agāraṁ ajjhāvasati.

A householder’s offspring: Gahapatiputto nāma

whoever is an offspring or a sibling. ye keci puttabhātaro.

Her: Sā bhikkhunīti

the nun who is socializing. yā sā saṁsaṭṭhā bhikkhunī.

The nuns: Bhikkhunīhīti

other nuns who see it or hear about it. They should correct her like this: aññāhi bhikkhunīhi. Yā passanti yā suṇanti tāhi vattabbā—

“Venerable, don’t socialize with householders or householders’ offspring. “māyye, saṁsaṭṭhā vihari gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi. Be secluded, Venerable. Viviccāyye; The Sangha praises seclusion for the Sisters.” vivekaññeva bhaginiyā saṅgho vaṇṇetī”ti.

And they should correct her a second Dutiyampi vattabbā. and a third time. Tatiyampi vattabbā. If she stops, all is well. Sace paṭinissajjati, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ; If she does not stop, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. no ce paṭinissajjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If those who hear about it do not say anything, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. Sutvā na vadanti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

That nun, even if she has to be pulled into the Sangha, should be corrected like this: Sā bhikkhunī saṅghamajjhampi ākaḍḍhitvā vattabbā—

They should correct her a second Dutiyampi vattabbā. and a third time. Tatiyampi vattabbā. If she stops, all is well. Sace paṭinissajjati, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ; If she does not stop, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. no ce paṭinissajjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Should press her: Sā bhikkhunī samanubhāsitabbā.

“And, monks, she should be pressed like this. “Evañca pana, bhikkhave, samanubhāsitabbā. A competent and capable nun should inform the Sangha: Byattāya bhikkhuniyā paṭibalāya saṅgho ñāpetabbo—

‘Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. ‘Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho. The nun so-and-so is socializing with householders and their offspring. Ayaṁ itthannāmā bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi. And she keeps on doing it. Sā taṁ vatthuṁ na paṭinissajjati. If the Sangha is ready, it should press her to make her stop. Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ, saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuniṁ samanubhāseyya tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya. This is the motion. Esā ñatti.

Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho. The nun so-and-so is socializing with householders and their offspring. Ayaṁ itthannāmā bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi. And she keeps on doing it. Sā taṁ vatthuṁ na paṭinissajjati. The Sangha presses her to make her stop. Saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuniṁ samanubhāsati tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya. Any nun who approves of pressing nun so-and-so to make her stop should remain silent. Yassā ayyāya khamati itthannāmāya bhikkhuniyā samanubhāsanā tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya, sā tuṇhassa; Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up. yassā nakkhamati, sā bhāseyya.

For the second time I speak on this matter … Dutiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi …pe… For the third time I speak on this matter … tatiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi …pe….

The Sangha has pressed nun so-and-so to stop. Samanubhaṭṭhā saṅghena itthannāmā bhikkhunī tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya; The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.’” khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmī’”ti.

After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ. After each of the first two announcements, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Dvīhi kammavācāhi dukkaṭā. When the last announcement is finished, she commits an offense entailing confession. Kammavācāpariyosāne āpatti pācittiyassa.

Permutations

If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññā na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dhammakamme vematikā na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññā na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she has not been pressed; asamanubhāsantiyā, if she stops; paṭinissajjantiyā, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.

The sixth training rule is finished. Chaṭṭhasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

English Translation

Pāli Text

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law
The Nuns’ Analysis
The chapter on offenses entailing confession
The subchapter on lying down

The training rule on socializing

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the nun Caṇḍakāḷī was socializing with householders and their offspring.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, “How can Venerable Caṇḍakāḷī socialize with householders and their offspring?” … “Is it true, monks, that the nun Caṇḍakāḷī does this?”

“It’s true, Sir.”

The Buddha rebuked her … “How can the nun Caṇḍakāḷī do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

‘If a nun is socializing with a householder or a householder’s offspring, the nuns should correct her like this: “Venerable, don’t socialize with householders or householders’ offspring. Be secluded, Venerable. The Sangha praises seclusion for the Sisters.” If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop. If she then stops, all is well. If she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A:

whoever …

Nun:

Socializing:

she socializes with improper bodily and verbal actions.

A householder:

anyone who lives at home.

A householder’s offspring:

whoever is an offspring or a sibling.

Her:

the nun who is socializing.

The nuns:

other nuns who see it or hear about it. They should correct her like this:

“Venerable, don’t socialize with householders or householders’ offspring. Be secluded, Venerable. The Sangha praises seclusion for the Sisters.”

And they should correct her a second and a third time. If she stops, all is well. If she does not stop, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If those who hear about it do not say anything, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

That nun, even if she has to be pulled into the Sangha, should be corrected like this:

“Venerable, don’t socialize with householders or householders’ offspring. Be secluded, Venerable. The Sangha praises seclusion for the Sisters.”

They should correct her a second and a third time. If she stops, all is well. If she does not stop, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Should press her:

“And, monks, she should be pressed like this. A competent and capable nun should inform the Sangha:

‘Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The nun so-and-so is socializing with householders and their offspring. And she keeps on doing it. If the Sangha is ready, it should press her to make her stop. This is the motion.

Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The nun so-and-so is socializing with householders and their offspring. And she keeps on doing it. The Sangha presses her to make her stop. Any nun who approves of pressing nun so-and-so to make her stop should remain silent. Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up.

For the second time I speak on this matter … For the third time I speak on this matter …

The Sangha has pressed nun so-and-so to stop. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.’”

After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. After each of the first two announcements, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. When the last announcement is finished, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing confession. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing confession. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if she has not been pressed; if she stops; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.

The sixth training rule is finished.

Theravāda Vinaya
Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
Pācittiyakaṇḍa
Tuvaṭṭavagga

36. Saṁsaṭṭhasikkhāpada

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi.

Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“kathañhi nāma ayyā caṇḍakāḷī saṁsaṭṭhā viharissati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapī”ti …pe… “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapī”ti?

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharissati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

“Yā pana bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā vihareyya gahapatinā vā gahapatiputtena vā sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi evamassa vacanīyā—‘māyye, saṁsaṭṭhā vihari gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi. Viviccāyye; vivekaññeva bhaginiyā saṅgho vaṇṇetī’ti. Evañca sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi vuccamānā tatheva paggaṇheyya, sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi yāvatatiyaṁ samanubhāsitabbā tassa paṭinissaggāya. Yāvatatiyañce samanubhāsīyamānā taṁ paṭinissajjeyya, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ; no ce paṭinissajjeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

Yā panāti

yā yādisā …pe…

bhikkhunīti

…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti.

Saṁsaṭṭhā nāma

ananulomikena kāyikavācasikena saṁsaṭṭhā.

Gahapati nāma

yo koci agāraṁ ajjhāvasati.

Gahapatiputto nāma

ye keci puttabhātaro.

Sā bhikkhunīti

yā sā saṁsaṭṭhā bhikkhunī.

Bhikkhunīhīti

aññāhi bhikkhunīhi. Yā passanti yā suṇanti tāhi vattabbā—

“māyye, saṁsaṭṭhā vihari gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi. Viviccāyye; vivekaññeva bhaginiyā saṅgho vaṇṇetī”ti.

Dutiyampi vattabbā. Tatiyampi vattabbā. Sace paṭinissajjati, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ; no ce paṭinissajjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Sutvā na vadanti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Sā bhikkhunī saṅghamajjhampi ākaḍḍhitvā vattabbā—

“māyye, saṁsaṭṭhā vihari gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi. Viviccāyye; vivekaññeva bhaginiyā saṅgho vaṇṇetī”ti.

Dutiyampi vattabbā. Tatiyampi vattabbā. Sace paṭinissajjati, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ; no ce paṭinissajjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Sā bhikkhunī samanubhāsitabbā.

“Evañca pana, bhikkhave, samanubhāsitabbā. Byattāya bhikkhuniyā paṭibalāya saṅgho ñāpetabbo—

‘Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho. Ayaṁ itthannāmā bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi. Sā taṁ vatthuṁ na paṭinissajjati. Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ, saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuniṁ samanubhāseyya tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya. Esā ñatti.

Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho. Ayaṁ itthannāmā bhikkhunī saṁsaṭṭhā viharati gahapatināpi gahapatiputtenapi. Sā taṁ vatthuṁ na paṭinissajjati. Saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuniṁ samanubhāsati tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya. Yassā ayyāya khamati itthannāmāya bhikkhuniyā samanubhāsanā tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya, sā tuṇhassa; yassā nakkhamati, sā bhāseyya.

Dutiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi …pe… tatiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi …pe….

Samanubhaṭṭhā saṅghena itthannāmā bhikkhunī tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya; khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmī’”ti.

Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ. Dvīhi kammavācāhi dukkaṭā. Kammavācāpariyosāne āpatti pācittiyassa.

Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññā na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa. Dhammakamme vematikā na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa. Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññā na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Adhammakamme vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

Anāpatti—asamanubhāsantiyā, paṭinissajjantiyā, ummattikāya, ādikammikāyāti.

Chaṭṭhasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

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 socializing 36. Saṁsaṭṭhasikkhāpada

Origin story

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

Final ruling

Definitions

A: Yā panāti

whoever … yā yādisā …pe…

Nun: bhikkhunīti

Socializing: Saṁsaṭṭhā nāma

she socializes with improper bodily and verbal actions. ananulomikena kāyikavācasikena saṁsaṭṭhā.

A householder: Gahapati nāma

anyone who lives at home. yo koci agāraṁ ajjhāvasati.

A householder’s offspring: Gahapatiputto nāma

whoever is an offspring or a sibling. ye keci puttabhātaro.

Her: Sā bhikkhunīti

the nun who is socializing. yā sā saṁsaṭṭhā bhikkhunī.

The nuns: Bhikkhunīhīti

other nuns who see it or hear about it. They should correct her like this: aññāhi bhikkhunīhi. Yā passanti yā suṇanti tāhi vattabbā—

That nun, even if she has to be pulled into the Sangha, should be corrected like this: Sā bhikkhunī saṅghamajjhampi ākaḍḍhitvā vattabbā—

Should press her: Sā bhikkhunī samanubhāsitabbā.

For the second time I speak on this matter … Dutiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi …pe… For the third time I speak on this matter … tatiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi …pe….

Permutations

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she has not been pressed; asamanubhāsantiyā, if she stops; paṭinissajjantiyā, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.

The sixth training rule is finished. Chaṭṭhasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.