- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on pregnant women Gabbhinivagga
The training rule on pregnant women 61. Gabbhinisikkhāpada
Origin story
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. the nuns gave the full admission to a pregnant woman. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo gabbhiniṁ vuṭṭhāpenti. When she walked for alms, Sā piṇḍāya carati. people said, Manussā evamāhaṁsu—“Give almsfood to the Venerable. She’s carrying a heavy burden.” “dethāyyāya bhikkhaṁ, garubhārā ayyā”ti.
People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the nuns give the full admission to a pregnant woman?” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo gabbhiniṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”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 could nuns do this?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo gabbhiniṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo gabbhiniṁ vuṭṭhāpentī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could nuns do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo gabbhiniṁ vuṭṭhāpessanti. 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 gives the full admission to a pregnant woman, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī gabbhiniṁ vuṭṭhāpeyya, 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 pregnant woman: Gabbhinī nāma
- a woman with child is what is meant. āpannasattā vuccati.
- Gives the full admission: Vuṭṭhāpeyyāti
- gives the full ordination. upasampādeyya. If, intending to give the full admission, she searches for a group, a teacher, a bowl, or a robe, or she establishes a monastery zone, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. “Vuṭṭhāpessāmī”ti gaṇaṁ vā ācariniṁ vā pattaṁ vā cīvaraṁ vā pariyesati, sīmaṁ vā sammannati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ. After each of the first two announcements, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Dvīhi kammavācāhi dukkaṭā. When the last announcement is finished, the preceptor commits an offense entailing confession, Kammavācāpariyosāne upajjhāyāya āpatti pācittiyassa. and the group and the teacher commit an offense of wrong conduct. Gaṇassa ca ācariniyā ca āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Permutations
If the woman is pregnant, and the nun perceives her as such, yet she gives her the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession. Gabbhiniyā gabbhinisaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the woman is pregnant, but the nun is unsure of it, yet she gives her the full admission, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Gabbhiniyā vematikā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If the woman is pregnant, but the nun does not perceive her as such, and she gives her the full admission, there is no offense. Gabbhiniyā agabbhinisaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, anāpatti.
If the woman is not pregnant, but the nun perceives her as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Agabbhiniyā gabbhinisaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If the woman is not pregnant, but the nun is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Agabbhiniyā vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If the woman is not pregnant, and the nun does not perceive her as such, there is no offense. Agabbhiniyā agabbhinisaññā, anāpatti.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she gives the full admission to a woman who is pregnant, but she does not perceive her as such; gabbhiniṁ agabbhinisaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, if she gives the full admission to a woman who is not pregnant, and she does not perceive her as such; agabbhiniṁ agabbhinisaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The first training rule is finished. Paṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.