- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing suspension Saṅghādisesakaṇḍa
The training rule on receiving food 5. Bhojanapaṭiggahaṇasikkhāpada
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 there was a beautiful nun called Sundarīnandā. Tena kho pana samayena sundarīnandā bhikkhunī abhirūpā hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā. When people saw her in the dining hall, they gave her the best food, both the donors and the recipient having lust. Manussā bhattagge sundarīnandaṁ bhikkhuniṁ passitvā avassutā avassutāya sundarīnandāya bhikkhuniyā aggamaggāni bhojanāni denti. Sundarīnandā ate as much as she liked, Sundarīnandā bhikkhunī yāvadatthaṁ bhuñjati; but not so the other nuns. aññā bhikkhuniyo na cittarūpaṁ labhanti.
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Sundarīnandā, being lustful, eat either fresh or cooked food after receiving it directly from a lustful man?” … “kathañhi nāma ayyā sundarīnandā avassutā avassutassa purisapuggalassa hatthato khādanīyaṁ vā bhojanīyaṁ vā sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khādissati bhuñjissatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Sundarīnandā did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, sundarīnandā bhikkhunī avassutā avassutassa purisapuggalassa hatthato khādanīyaṁ vā bhojanīyaṁ vā sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khādati bhuñjatī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could Sundarīnandā, being lustful, eat either fresh or cooked food after receiving it directly from a lustful man? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, sundarīnandā bhikkhunī avassutā avassutassa purisapuggalassa hatthato khādanīyaṁ vā bhojanīyaṁ vā sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khādissati bhuñjissati. 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 lustful nun eats fresh or cooked food after receiving it directly from a lustful man, then that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī avassutā avassutassa purisapuggalassa hatthato khādanīyaṁ vā bhojanīyaṁ vā sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khādeyya vā bhuñjeyya vā, ayampi bhikkhunī paṭhamāpattikaṁ dhammaṁ āpannā nissāraṇīyaṁ saṅghādisesan”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.
- Lustful: Avassutā nāma
- having lust, longing for, in love with. sārattā apekkhavatī paṭibaddhacittā.
- Lustful: Avassuto nāma
- having lust, longing for, in love with. sāratto apekkhavā paṭibaddhacitto.
- Man: Purisapuggalo nāma
- a human male, not a male spirit, not a male ghost, not a male animal. He understands and is capable of having lust. manussapuriso, na yakkho na peto na tiracchānagato, viññū paṭibalo sārajjituṁ.
- Fresh food: Khādanīyaṁ nāma
- apart from the five cooked foods, water, and tooth cleaners, the rest is called “fresh food”. pañca bhojanāni udakadantaponaṁ ṭhapetvā avasesaṁ khādanīyaṁ nāma.
- Cooked food: Bhojanīyaṁ nāma
- there are five kinds of cooked food: cooked grain, porridge, flour products, fish, and meat. pañca bhojanāni—odano, kummāso, sattu, maccho, maṁsaṁ. If she receives fresh or cooked food with the intention of eating it, she commits a serious offense. “Khādissāmi bhuñjissāmī”ti paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti thullaccayassa. For every mouthful, she commits an offense entailing suspension. Ajjhohāre ajjhohāre āpatti saṅghādisesassa.
- That too: Ayampīti
- this is said with reference to the preceding offenses. purimāyo upādāya vuccati.
- An immediate offense: Paṭhamāpattikanti
- there is an offense as soon as the misconduct is committed, and no pressing is required. saha vatthujjhācārā āpajjati asamanubhāsanāya.
- Entailing sending away: Nissāraṇīyanti
- she is sent away from the Sangha. saṅghamhā nissārīyati.
- Suspension: Saṅghādisesoti
- … Therefore, too, it is called an offense entailing suspension. …pe… tenapi vuccati saṅghādisesoti.
Permutations
If she receives water or a tooth cleaner, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Udakadantaponaṁ paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If only the man has lust, and she receives fresh or cooked food with the intention of eating it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ekatoavassute “khādissāmi bhuñjissāmī”ti paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
For every mouthful, she commits a serious offense. Ajjhohāre ajjhohāre āpatti thullaccayassa. If she receives water or a tooth cleaner, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Udakadantaponaṁ paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If both of them have lust, and she receives fresh or cooked food with the intention of eating it directly from a male spirit, a male ghost, a <i lang='pi' translate='no'>paṇḍaka</i>, or a male animal in human form, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ubhatoavassute yakkhassa vā petassa vā paṇḍakassa vā tiracchānagatamanussaviggahassa vā hatthato “khādissāmi bhuñjissāmī”ti paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. For every mouthful, she commits a serious offense. Ajjhohāre ajjhohāre āpatti thullaccayassa. If she receives water or a tooth cleaner, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Udakadantaponaṁ paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If only the male being has lust, and she receives fresh or cooked food with the intention of eating it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ekatoavassute “khādissāmi bhuñjissāmī”ti paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. For every mouthful, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ajjhohāre ajjhohāre āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she receives water or a tooth cleaner, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Udakadantaponaṁ paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if both are without lust; ubhatoanavassutā honti, if she receives, knowing that the man has no lust; “anavassuto”ti jānantī paṭiggaṇhāti, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The fifth offense entailing suspension is finished. Pañcamasaṅghādisesasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.