- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on monasteries Ārāmavagga
The training rule on not inviting 57. Apavāraṇāsikkhāpada
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 a number of nuns who had completed the rainy-season residence in a village monastery went to Sāvatthī. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhuniyo gāmakāvāse vassaṁvuṭṭhā sāvatthiṁ agamaṁsu. The nuns there asked them, Bhikkhuniyo tā bhikkhuniyo etadavocuṁ—“Venerables, where did you spend the rains residence? “katthāyyāyo vassaṁvuṭṭhā; Where did you invite the Sangha of monks for correction?” kattha bhikkhusaṅgho pavārito”ti?
“We didn’t invite the Sangha of monks for correction.” “Na mayaṁ, ayye, bhikkhusaṅghaṁ pavāremā”ti.
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could nuns who have completed the rains residence not invite the Sangha of monks for correction?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo vassaṁvuṭṭhā bhikkhusaṅghaṁ na pavāressantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns didn’t do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo vassaṁvuṭṭhā bhikkhusaṅghaṁ na pavārentī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could nuns not do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo vassaṁvuṭṭhā bhikkhusaṅghaṁ na pavāressanti. 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 who has completed the rainy-season residence does not invite correction from both Sanghas in regard to three things—what has been seen, heard, or suspected—she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī vassaṁvuṭṭhā ubhatosaṅghe tīhi ṭhānehi na pavāreyya diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā, 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.
- Who has completed the rainy-season residence: Vassaṁvuṭṭhā nāma
- who has completed the first three or the last three months of the rainy-season residence. purimaṁ vā temāsaṁ pacchimaṁ vā temāsaṁ vuṭṭhā. If she thinks, “I won’t invite correction from both Sanghas in regard to three things—what has been seen, heard, or suspected,” then by the mere fact of abandoning her duty, she commits an offense entailing confession. Ubhatosaṅghe tīhi ṭhānehi na pavāressāmi diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā”ti dhuraṁ nikkhittamatte āpatti pācittiyassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if there is an obstacle; sati antarāye, if she searches, but does not find anyone to invite for correction; pariyesitvā na labhati, if she is sick; gilānāya, 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.