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Buddham Dhammam
  • Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
  • The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
  • The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
  • The subchapter on sunshades and sandals Chattupāhanavagga

The training rule on sunshades and sandals 84. Chattupāhanasikkhāpada

Origin story

First sub-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 from the group of six used sunshades and sandals. Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo chattupāhanaṁ dhārenti. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns use sunshades and sandals? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo chattupāhanaṁ dhāressanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.

The nuns heard the complaints of those people. Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can the nuns from the group of six use sunshades and sandals?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo chattupāhanaṁ dhāressantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that those nuns do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo chattupāhanaṁ dhārentī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can the nuns from the group of six do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo chattupāhanaṁ dhāressanti. 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—

First preliminary ruling

‘If a nun uses a sunshade and sandals, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī chattupāhanaṁ dhāreyya, pācittiyan”ti.

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the nuns. Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhunīnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards there was a sick nun Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā bhikkhunī gilānā hoti. who was not comfortable without sandals and a sunshade. … Tassā vinā chattupāhanaṁ na phāsu hoti …pe… They told the Buddha. The Buddha then had the Sangha gathered and addressed the monks: bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…

“Monks, I allow a sick nun to use a sunshade and sandals. anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānāya bhikkhuniyā chattupāhanaṁ.

And so, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: Evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

Final ruling

‘If a nun who is not sick uses a sunshade and sandals, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī agilānā chattupāhanaṁ dhāreyya, 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.
Who is not sick: Agilānā nāma
who is comfortable without a sunshade and sandals. yassā vinā chattupāhanaṁ phāsu hoti.
Who is sick: Gilānā nāma
who is not comfortable without a sunshade and sandals. yassā vinā chattupāhanaṁ na phāsu hoti.
A sunshade: Chattaṁ nāma
there are three kinds of sunshades: the white sunshade, the reed sunshade, the leaf sunshade. They are bound at the rim and bound at the ribs. tīṇi chattāni— setacchattaṁ, kilañjacchattaṁ, paṇṇacchattaṁ maṇḍalabaddhaṁ salākabaddhaṁ.
Uses: Dhāreyyāti
if she uses them even once, she commits an offense entailing confession. sakimpi dhāreti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Permutations

If she is not sick, and she does not perceive herself as sick, and she uses a sunshade and sandals, she commits an offense entailing confession. Agilānā agilānasaññā chattupāhanaṁ dhāreti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If she is not sick, but she is unsure of it, and she uses a sunshade and sandals, she commits an offense entailing confession. Agilānā vematikā chattupāhanaṁ dhāreti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If she is not sick, but she perceives herself as sick, and she uses a sunshade and sandals, she commits an offense entailing confession. Agilānā gilānasaññā chattupāhanaṁ dhāreti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she uses a sunshade, but not sandals, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Chattaṁ dhāreti na upāhanaṁ, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she uses sandals, but not a sunshade, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Upāhanaṁ dhāreti na chattaṁ, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is sick, but she does not perceive herself as sick, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Gilānā agilānasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is sick, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Gilānā vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she is sick, and she perceives herself as sick, there is no offense. Gilānā gilānasaññā, anāpatti.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she is sick; gilānāya, if she uses them in a monastery or in the vicinity of a monastery; ārāme ārāmūpacāre dhāreti, if there is an emergency; āpadāsu, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.

The first training rule is finished. Paṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.