- 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 communal robes 47. Āvasathacīvarasikkhāpada
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 did not relinquish the communal robe, but continued using it. Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī āvasathacīvaraṁ anissajjitvā paribhuñjati. Other menstruating nuns did not get to use it. Aññā utuniyo bhikkhuniyo na labhanti.
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā not relinquish the communal robe, but continue using it?” … “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā āvasathacīvaraṁ anissajjitvā paribhuñjissatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī āvasathacīvaraṁ anissajjitvā paribhuñjatī”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 āvasathacīvaraṁ anissajjitvā paribhuñjissati. 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 does not relinquish a communal robe, but continues to use it, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī āvasathacīvaraṁ anissajjitvā paribhuñjeyya, 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 communal robe: Āvasathacīvaraṁ nāma
- it is given specifically for the use of menstruating nuns. “utuniyo bhikkhuniyo paribhuñjantū”ti dinnaṁ hoti.
- Does not relinquish, but continues to use it: Anissajjitvā paribhuñjeyyāti
- if she uses it for two or three days, washes it on the fourth day, and then uses it again without relinquishing it to a nun or a trainee nun or a novice nun, she commits an offense entailing confession. dvetisso rattiyo paribhuñjitvā catutthadivase dhovitvā bhikkhuniyā vā sikkhamānāya vā sāmaṇeriyā vā anissajjitvā paribhuñjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Permutations
If it has not been relinquished, and she perceives that it has not, and she uses it, she commits an offense entailing confession. Anissajjite anissajjitasaññā paribhuñjati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it has not been relinquished, but she is unsure of it, and she uses it, she commits an offense entailing confession. Anissajjite vematikā paribhuñjati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it has not been relinquished, but she perceives that it has, and she uses it, she commits an offense entailing confession. Anissajjite nissajjitasaññā paribhuñjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If it has been relinquished, but she perceives that it has not, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Nissajjite anissajjitasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it has been relinquished, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Nissajjite vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it has been relinquished, and she perceives that it has, there is no offense. Nissajjite nissajjitasaññā anāpatti.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she relinquishes it and then uses it; nissajjitvā paribhuñjati, if she uses it again at the next turn; puna pariyāyena paribhuñjati, if there are no other menstruating nuns; aññā utuniyo bhikkhuniyo na honti, if her robe has been stolen; acchinnacīvarikāya, if her robe has been lost; naṭṭhacīvarikāya, if there is an emergency; āpadāsu, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The seventh training rule is finished. Sattamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.