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56. Abhikkhukāvāsasikkhāpada

The training rule on monasteries without monks

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhuniyo gāmakāvāse vassaṁvuṭṭhā sāvatthiṁ agamaṁsu.
At that time a number of nuns who had completed the rainy-season residence in a village monastery went to Sāvatthī.

Bhikkhuniyo tā bhikkhuniyo etadavocuṁ—
The nuns there asked them,

“katthāyyāyo vassaṁvuṭṭhā?
“Venerables, where did you spend the rains residence?

Kacci ovādo iddho ahosī”ti?
We hope the instruction was effective?”

“Natthayye, tattha bhikkhū;
“There were no monks there.

kuto ovādo iddho bhavissatī”ti.
So how could the instruction be effective?”

Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo abhikkhuke āvāse vassaṁ vasissantī”ti …pe…
“How could nuns spend the rains residence in a monastery without monks?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo abhikkhuke āvāse vassaṁ vasantī”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that nuns did this?”

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

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…
The Buddha rebuked them …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo abhikkhuke āvāse vassaṁ vasissanti.
“How could nuns do this?

Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…
This will affect people’s confidence …” …

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

“Yā pana bhikkhunī abhikkhuke āvāse vassaṁ vaseyya, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a nun spends the rainy-season residence in a monastery without monks, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Yā panāti
A:

yā yādisā …pe…
whoever …

bhikkhunīti
Nun:

…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā 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.

Abhikkhuko nāma āvāso
A monastery without monks:

na sakkā hoti ovādāya vā saṁvāsāya vā gantuṁ.
she is not able to go to the instruction or to a formal meeting of the community.

“Vassaṁ vasissāmī”ti senāsanaṁ paññapeti pānīyaṁ paribhojanīyaṁ upaṭṭhapeti pariveṇaṁ sammajjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If she thinks, “I’ll stay here for the rainy-season residence,” and she prepares a dwelling, sets out water for drinking and water for washing, and sweeps the yard, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Saha aruṇuggamanā āpatti pācittiyassa.
At dawn, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Anāpatti—
There is no offense:

vassupagatā bhikkhū pakkantā vā honti vibbhantā vā kālaṅkatā vā pakkhasaṅkantā vā,
if the monks who entered the rainy-season residence there depart or disrobe or die or join another group;

āpadāsu,
if there is an emergency;

ummattikāya,
if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.
if she is the first offender.

Chaṭṭhasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.
The sixth training rule is finished.