Origin story

First sub-story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. a number of monks dressed only in sarongs were making robes in a certain village monastery. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū gāmakāvāse ekacīvarā cīvarakammaṁ karonti. Nuns entered that monastery without asking permission and approached those monks. Bhikkhuniyo anāpucchā ārāmaṁ pavisitvā yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkamiṁsu. The monks complained and criticized them, Bhikkhū ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns enter a monastery without asking permission?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo anāpucchā ārāmaṁ pavisissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns did that?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo anāpucchā ārāmaṁ pavisantī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can nuns do that? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo anāpucchā ārāmaṁ pavisissanti. 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—

First preliminary ruling

‘If a nun enters a monastery without asking permission, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī anāpucchā ārāmaṁ paviseyya, pācittiyan”ti.

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the nuns. Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhunīnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards those monks left that monastery. Tena kho pana samayena te bhikkhū tamhā āvāsā pakkamiṁsu. But even though the nuns had heard that the monks had left, they did not go there. Bhikkhuniyo—“ayyā pakkantā”ti ārāmaṁ nāgamaṁsu. Soon the monks returned. Atha kho te bhikkhū punadeva taṁ āvāsaṁ paccāgacchiṁsu. When the nuns heard that this was the case, they asked permission and then entered that monastery. Bhikkhuniyo—“ayyā āgatā”ti āpucchā ārāmaṁ pavisitvā yena te bhikkhū tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; They approached the monks and bowed down to them. upasaṅkamitvā te bhikkhū abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. The monks then said to them, “Sisters, why didn’t you sweep the monastery, or put out water for drinking or water for washing?” Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho tā bhikkhuniyo te bhikkhū etadavocuṁ—“kissa tumhe, bhaginiyo, ārāmaṁ neva sammajjittha na pānīyaṁ paribhojanīyaṁ upaṭṭhāpitthā”ti?

“The Buddha has laid down a training rule that we may not enter a monastery without asking permission. “Bhagavatā, ayyā, sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ—‘na anāpucchā ārāmo pavisitabbo’ti. That’s why we didn’t do it.” Tena mayaṁ na āgamimhā”ti.

They told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and addressed the monks: Bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Monks, when a monk is available, a nun should enter a monastery only after asking permission. anujānāmi, bhikkhave, santaṁ bhikkhuṁ āpucchā ārāmaṁ pavisituṁ. And so, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: Evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

Second preliminary ruling

‘If a nun, when a monk is available, enters a monastery without asking permission, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī santaṁ bhikkhuṁ anāpucchā ārāmaṁ paviseyya, pācittiyan”ti.

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the nuns. Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhunīnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.

Third sub-story

After leaving that monastery once more, the monks returned yet again. Tena kho pana samayena te bhikkhū tamhā āvāsā pakkamitvā punadeva taṁ āvāsaṁ paccāgacchiṁsu. Thinking that the monks were still away, the nuns entered the monastery without asking permission. Bhikkhuniyo—“ayyā pakkantā”ti anāpucchā ārāmaṁ pavisiṁsu. The nuns became anxious, thinking, Tāsaṁ kukkuccaṁ ahosi—“bhagavatā sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ—‘na santaṁ bhikkhuṁ anāpucchā ārāmo pavisitabbo’ti. “We have entered a monastery without asking permission, even though a monk was available. And the Buddha has laid down a training rule against this. Mayañcamhā santaṁ bhikkhuṁ anāpucchā ārāmaṁ pavisimhā. Could it be that we have committed an offense entailing confession?” Kacci nu kho mayaṁ pācittiyaṁ āpattiṁ āpannā”ti …pe…

They told the Buddha. bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Soon afterwards he gave a teaching and addressed the monks: Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi …pe… “And so, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—