- 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 asking questions 95. Pañhāpucchanasikkhāpada
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 asked questions of a monk who had not given them permission. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchanti. The monks complained and criticized them, Bhikkhū ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns ask questions of a monk who hasn’t given them permission?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchantī”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 anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchissanti. 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 asks a question of a monk who has not given her permission, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ puccheyya, 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 has not given her permission: Anokāsakatanti
- without asking permission. anāpucchā.
- A monk: Bhikkhunti
- one who is fully ordained. upasampannaṁ.
- Asks a question: Pañhaṁ puccheyyāti
- if she gets permission to ask about the discourses, but she asks about the Monastic Law or philosophy, she commits an offense entailing confession. suttante okāsaṁ kārāpetvā vinayaṁ vā abhidhammaṁ vā pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If she gets permission to ask about the Monastic Law, but she asks about the discourses or philosophy, she commits an offense entailing confession. Vinaye okāsaṁ kārāpetvā suttantaṁ vā abhidhammaṁ vā pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If she gets permission to ask about philosophy, but she asks about the discourses or the Monastic Law, she commits an offense entailing confession. Abhidhamme okāsaṁ kārāpetvā suttantaṁ vā vinayaṁ vā pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
Permutations
If she has not asked permission, and she does not perceive that she has, and she asks a question, she commits an offense entailing confession. Anāpucchite anāpucchitasaññā pañhaṁ pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If she has not asked permission, but she is unsure of it, and she asks a question, she commits an offense entailing confession. Anāpucchite vematikā pañhaṁ pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If she has not asked permission, but she perceives that she has, and she asks a question, she commits an offense entailing confession. Anāpucchite āpucchitasaññā pañhaṁ pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If she has asked permission, but she does not perceive that she has, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Āpucchite anāpucchitasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she has asked permission, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Āpucchite vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If she has asked permission, and she perceives that she has, there is no offense. Āpucchite āpucchitasaññā, anāpatti.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she asks after getting permission; okāsaṁ kārāpetvā pucchati, if she gets permission, but not in regard to a specific subject, and she then asks about any subject; anodissa okāsaṁ kārāpetvā yattha katthaci pucchati, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The twelfth training rule is finished. Dvādasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.