• Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
  • The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
  • The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
  • The subchapter on unmarried girls Kumāribhūtavagga

The training rule on lack of permission 80. Ananuññātasikkhāpada

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 trainee nun who had not been given permission by her parents and her husband. Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī mātāpitūhipi sāmikenapi ananuññātaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpeti. They complained and criticized her, Mātāpitaropi sāmikopi ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā give the full admission to that trainee nun without our permission?” “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā amhehi ananuññātaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpessatī”ti.

The nuns heard the complaints of the parents and the husband. Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo mātāpitūnampi sāmikassapi ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā give the full admission to a trainee nun who doesn’t have permission from her parents and her husband?” … “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā mātāpitūhipi sāmikenapi ananuññātaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpessatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī, mātāpitūhipi sāmikenapi ananuññātaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpetī”ti?

“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could the nun Thullanandā do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī mātāpitūhipi sāmikenapi ananuññātaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpessati. 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 trainee nun who has not been given permission by her parents or her husband, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī mātāpitūhi vā sāmikena vā ananuññātaṁ 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.
Parents: Mātāpitaro nāma
the biological parents is what is meant. janakā vuccanti.
Husband: Sāmiko nāma
he who possesses her. yena pariggahitā hoti.
Who has not been given permission: Ananuññātāti
who has not asked permission. anāpucchā.
A trainee nun: Sikkhamānā nāma
one who has trained for two years in the six rules. dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhā.
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.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she gives her the full admission without knowing; ajānantī vuṭṭhāpeti, if she gives her the full admission after permission has been given; apaloketvā vuṭṭhāpeti, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.

The tenth training rule is finished. Dasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.