- 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 trainee nuns 63. Sikkhamānasikkhāpada
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 were giving the full admission to trainee nuns who had not trained for two years in the six rules. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu asikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpenti. They were ignorant and incompetent, and did not know what was allowable and what was not. Tā bālā honti abyattā na jānanti kappiyaṁ vā akappiyaṁ vā.
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns give the full admission to trainee nuns who haven’t trained for two years in the six rules?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu asikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu asikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpentī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can nuns do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu asikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpessanti. This will affect people’s confidence …” Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… After rebuking them … vigarahitvā …pe… he gave a teaching and addressed the monks: dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—
“Monks, approval is required for a trainee nun to train in the six rules for two years. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, sikkhamānāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiṁ dātuṁ.
And it should be given like this. Evañca pana, bhikkhave, dātabbā.
After approaching the Sangha of nuns, that trainee nun should arrange her upper robe over one shoulder and pay respect at the feet of the nuns. She should then squat on her heels, raise her joined palms, and say: Tāya sikkhamānāya saṅghaṁ upasaṅkamitvā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā bhikkhunīnaṁ pāde vanditvā ukkuṭikaṁ nisīditvā añjaliṁ paggahetvā evamassa vacanīyo—
‘Venerables, I, so-and-so, am a trainee nun under Venerable so-and-so. ‘ahaṁ, ayye, itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya sikkhamānā. I ask the Sangha for approval to train for two years in the six rules.’ Saṅghaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiṁ yācāmī’ti. And she should ask a second Dutiyampi yācitabbā. and a third time. Tatiyampi yācitabbā.
A competent and capable nun should then inform the Sangha: Byattāya bhikkhuniyā paṭibalāya saṅgho ñāpetabbo—
‘Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. ‘Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho. So-and-so, who is a trainee nun under Venerable so-and-so, is asking the Sangha for approval to train in the six rules for two years. Ayaṁ itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya sikkhamānā saṅghaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiṁ yācati. If the Sangha is ready, it should give approval to trainee nun so-and-so to train in the six rules for two years. Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ saṅgho itthannāmāya sikkhamānāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiṁ dadeyya. This is the motion. Esā ñatti.
Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho. So-and-so, who is a trainee nun under Venerable so-and-so, is asking the Sangha for approval to train in the six rules for two years. Ayaṁ itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya sikkhamānā saṅghaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiṁ yācati. The Sangha gives approval to trainee nun so-and-so to train in the six rules for two years. Saṅgho itthannāmāya sikkhamānāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiṁ deti. Any nun who approves of giving approval to trainee nun so-and-so to train in the six rules for two years should remain silent. Yassā ayyāya khamati itthannāmāya sikkhamānāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiyā dānaṁ, sā tuṇhassa; Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up. yassā nakkhamati, sā bhāseyya.
The Sangha has given approval to trainee nun so-and-so to train in the six rules for two years. Dinnā saṅghena itthannāmāya sikkhamānāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammuti. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.’ Khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmī’”ti.
That trainee nun should then be told to say this: Sā sikkhamānā “evaṁ vadehī”ti vattabbā—‘I undertake to abstain from killing living beings for two years without transgression. “pāṇātipātā veramaṇiṁ dve vassāni avītikkamma samādānaṁ samādiyāmi. I undertake to abstain from stealing for two years without transgression. Adinnādānā veramaṇiṁ dve vassāni avītikkamma samādānaṁ samādiyāmi. I undertake to abstain from sexual activity for two years without transgression. Abrahmacariyā veramaṇiṁ dve vassāni avītikkamma samādānaṁ samādiyāmi. I undertake to abstain from lying for two years without transgression. Musāvādā veramaṇiṁ dve vassāni avītikkamma samādānaṁ samādiyāmi. I undertake to abstain from alcohol, which causes heedlessness, for two years without transgression. Surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇiṁ dve vassāni avītikkamma samādānaṁ samādiyāmi. I undertake to abstain from eating at the wrong time for two years without transgression.’” Vikālabhojanā veramaṇiṁ dve vassāni avītikkamma samādānaṁ samādiyāmī”ti.
Then, after rebuking those nuns in many ways, the Buddha spoke in dispraise of being difficult to support … Atha kho bhagavā tā bhikkhuniyo anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā dubbharatāya …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 trainee nun who has not trained in the six rules for two years, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī dve vassāni chasu dhammesu asikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ 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.
- Two years: Dve vassānīti
- two twelve-month periods. dve saṁvaccharāni.
- Who has not trained: Asikkhitasikkhā nāma
- the training has not been given to her, or the training has been given to her, but she has failed in it. sikkhā vā na dinnā hoti, dinnā vā sikkhā kupitā.
- 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 it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, and she gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dhammakamme vematikā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she gives the full admission to a trainee nun who has trained in the six rules for two years; dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpeti, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The third training rule is finished. Tatiyasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.