- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on pleasure houses Cittāgāravagga
The training rule on providing services for householders 44. Gihiveyyāvaccasikkhāpada
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 nuns were providing services for householders. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karonti. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns provide services for householders?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karontī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can nuns do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karissanti. 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 provides services for a householder, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī gihiveyyāvaccaṁ 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.
- Services for a householder: Gihiveyyāvaccaṁ nāma
- if she cooks congee, a meal, or fresh food for a householder, or she washes a wrap garment or a turban for them, she commits an offense entailing confession. agārikassa yāguṁ vā bhattaṁ vā khādanīyaṁ vā pacati, sāṭakaṁ vā veṭhanaṁ vā dhovati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if it is a congee drink; yāgupāne, if it is a meal for the Sangha; saṅghabhatte, if it is to venerate a shrine; cetiyapūjāya, if she cooks congee, a meal, or fresh food for her own service-provider, or she washes a wrap garment or a turban for them; attano veyyāvaccakarassa yāguṁ vā bhattaṁ vā khādanīyaṁ vā pacati, sāṭakaṁ vā veṭhanaṁ vā dhovati, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The fourth training rule is finished. Catutthasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.