- 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 studying worldly subjects 49. Tiracchānavijjāpariyāpuṇanasikkhāpada
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 nuns from the group of six were studying worldly subjects. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ pariyāpuṇanti. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the nuns study worldly subjects? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ pariyāpuṇissanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.
The nuns heard the complaints of those people, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the nuns from the group of six do this?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ pariyāpuṇissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that those nuns do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ pariyāpuṇantī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can the nuns from the group of six do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ pariyāpuṇissanti. 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 studies worldly subjects, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī tiracchānavijjaṁ pariyāpuṇeyya, 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.
- Worldly subjects: Tiracchānavijjā nāma
- whatever is external to the Buddha’s Teaching, not connected with the goal. yaṁ kiñci bāhirakaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ.
- Learns: Pariyāpuṇeyyāti
- if she learns by the line, then for every line she commits an offense entailing confession. padena pariyāpuṇāti, pade pade āpatti pācittiyassa. If she learns by the syllable, then for every syllable she commits an offense entailing confession. Akkharāya pariyāpuṇāti, akkharakkharāya āpatti pācittiyassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she learns writing; lekhaṁ pariyāpuṇāti, if she learns protective verses; dhāraṇaṁ pariyāpuṇāti, if she learns verses for the purpose of protection; guttatthāya parittaṁ pariyāpuṇāti, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The ninth training rule is finished. Navamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.