- 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 disciples 68. Sahajīvinīsikkhāpada
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 nun Thullanandā gave the full admission to a disciple, but then, for the next two years, neither guided her nor had her guided. Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā dve vassāni neva anuggaṇhāti na anuggaṇhāpeti. They were ignorant and incompetent, Tā bālā honti abyattā; and they did not know what was allowable and what was not. na jānanti kappiyaṁ vā akappiyaṁ vā.
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can Venerable Thullanandā give the full admission to a disciple, and then neither guide her nor have her guided for two years?” … “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā dve vassāni neva anuggaṇhissati na anuggaṇhāpessatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā does this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā dve vassāni neva anuggaṇhāti na anuggaṇhāpetī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can the nun Thullanandā do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā dve vassāni neva anuggaṇhissati na anuggaṇhāpessati. 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 disciple, and then, for the next two years, neither guides her nor has her guided, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā dve vassāni neva anuggaṇheyya na anuggaṇhāpeyya, 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 disciple: Sahajīvinī nāma
- a student is what is meant. saddhivihārinī vuccati.
- Gives the full admission: Vuṭṭhāpetvāti
- gives the full ordination. upasampādetvā.
- Two years: Dve vassānīti
- two twelve-month periods. dve saṁvaccharāni.
- Neither guides her: Neva anuggaṇheyyāti
- she does not herself guide her—through recitation, through questioning, through instruction, though teaching. na sayaṁ anuggaṇheyya uddesena paripucchāya ovādena anusāsaniyā.
- Nor has her guided: Na anuggaṇhāpeyyāti
- she does not ask anyone else. na aññaṁ āṇāpeyya If she thinks, “I’ll neither guide her nor have her guided for two years,” then by the mere fact of abandoning her duty, she commits an offense entailing confession. “dve vassāni neva anuggaṇhissāmi na anuggaṇhāpessāmī”ti dhuraṁ nikkhittamatte āpatti pācittiyassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if there is an obstacle; sati antarāye, if she searches for someone to guide her, but cannot find anyone; 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 eighth training rule is finished. Aṭṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.