Theravāda Vinaya
Translators: brahmali
Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law
Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
The Nuns’ Analysis
Pācittiyakaṇḍa
The chapter on offenses entailing confession
Gabbhinivagga
The subchapter on pregnant women
63. Sikkhamānasikkhāpada
The training rule on trainee nuns
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 bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu asikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpenti.
At that time the nuns were giving the full admission to trainee nuns who had not trained for two years in the six rules.
Tā bālā honti abyattā na jānanti kappiyaṁ vā akappiyaṁ vā.
They were ignorant and incompetent, and did not know what was allowable and what was not.
Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,
“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu asikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti …pe…
“How can nuns give the full admission to trainee nuns who haven’t trained for two years in the six rules?” …
“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu asikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpentī”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?”
“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
“It’s true, Sir.”
Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…
The Buddha rebuked them …
kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo dve vassāni chasu dhammesu asikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpessanti.
“How can nuns do this?
Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…
This will affect people’s confidence …”
vigarahitvā …pe…
After rebuking them …
dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—
he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:
“anujānāmi, bhikkhave, sikkhamānāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiṁ dātuṁ.
“Monks, approval is required for a trainee nun to train in the six rules for two years.
Evañca pana, bhikkhave, dātabbā.
And it should be given like this.
Tāya sikkhamānāya saṅghaṁ upasaṅkamitvā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā bhikkhunīnaṁ pāde vanditvā ukkuṭikaṁ nisīditvā añjaliṁ paggahetvā evamassa vacanīyo—
After approaching the Sangha of nuns, that trainee nun should arrange her upper robe over one shoulder and pay respect at the feet of the nuns. She should then squat on her heels, raise her joined palms, and say:
‘ahaṁ, ayye, itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya sikkhamānā.
‘Venerables, I, so-and-so, am a trainee nun under Venerable so-and-so.
Saṅghaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiṁ yācāmī’ti.
I ask the Sangha for approval to train for two years in the six rules.’
Dutiyampi yācitabbā.
And she should ask a second
Tatiyampi yācitabbā.
and a third time.
Byattāya bhikkhuniyā paṭibalāya saṅgho ñāpetabbo—
A competent and capable nun should then inform the Sangha:
‘Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho.
‘Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.
Ayaṁ itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya sikkhamānā saṅghaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiṁ yācati.
So-and-so, who is a trainee nun under Venerable so-and-so, is asking the Sangha for approval to train in the six rules for two years.
Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ saṅgho itthannāmāya sikkhamānāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiṁ dadeyya.
If the Sangha is ready, it should give approval to trainee nun so-and-so to train in the six rules for two years.
Esā ñatti.
This is the motion.
Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho.
Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.
Ayaṁ itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya sikkhamānā saṅghaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiṁ yācati.
So-and-so, who is a trainee nun under Venerable so-and-so, is asking the Sangha for approval to train in the six rules for two years.
Saṅgho itthannāmāya sikkhamānāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiṁ deti.
The Sangha gives approval to trainee nun so-and-so to train in the six rules for two years.
Yassā ayyāya khamati itthannāmāya sikkhamānāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammutiyā dānaṁ, sā tuṇhassa;
Any nun who approves of giving approval to trainee nun so-and-so to train in the six rules for two years should remain silent.
yassā nakkhamati, sā bhāseyya.
Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up.
Dinnā saṅghena itthannāmāya sikkhamānāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhāsammuti.
The Sangha has given approval to trainee nun so-and-so to train in the six rules for two years.
Khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmī’”ti.
The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.’
Sā sikkhamānā “evaṁ vadehī”ti vattabbā—
That trainee nun should then be told to say this:
“pāṇātipātā veramaṇiṁ dve vassāni avītikkamma samādānaṁ samādiyāmi.
‘I undertake to abstain from killing living beings for two years without transgression.
Adinnādānā veramaṇiṁ dve vassāni avītikkamma samādānaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake to abstain from stealing for two years without transgression.
Abrahmacariyā veramaṇiṁ dve vassāni avītikkamma samādānaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake to abstain from sexual activity for two years without transgression.
Musāvādā veramaṇiṁ dve vassāni avītikkamma samādānaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake to abstain from lying for two years without transgression.
Surāmerayamajjappamādaṭṭhānā veramaṇiṁ dve vassāni avītikkamma samādānaṁ samādiyāmi.
I undertake to abstain from alcohol, which causes heedlessness, for two years without transgression.
Vikālabhojanā veramaṇiṁ dve vassāni avītikkamma samādānaṁ samādiyāmī”ti.
I undertake to abstain from eating at the wrong time for two years without transgression.’”
Atha kho bhagavā tā bhikkhuniyo anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā dubbharatāya …pe…
Then, after rebuking those nuns in many ways, the Buddha spoke in dispraise of being difficult to support …
evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
“Yā pana bhikkhunī dve vassāni chasu dhammesu asikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a nun gives the full admission to a trainee nun who has not trained in the six rules for two years, 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.
Dve vassānīti
Two years:
dve saṁvaccharāni.
two twelve-month periods.
Asikkhitasikkhā nāma
Who has not trained:
sikkhā vā na dinnā hoti, dinnā vā sikkhā kupitā.
the training has not been given to her, or the training has been given to her, but she has failed in it.
Vuṭṭhāpeyyāti
Gives the full admission:
upasampādeyya.
gives the full ordination.
“Vuṭṭhāpessāmī”ti gaṇaṁ vā ācariniṁ vā pattaṁ vā cīvaraṁ vā pariyesati, sīmaṁ vā sammannati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
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.
Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ.
After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Dvīhi kammavācāhi dukkaṭā.
After each of the first two announcements, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Kammavācāpariyosāne upajjhāyāya āpatti pācittiyassa.
When the last announcement is finished, the preceptor commits an offense entailing confession,
Gaṇassa ca ācariniyā ca āpatti dukkaṭassa.
and the group and the teacher commit an offense of wrong conduct.
Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, and she gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession.
Dhammakamme vematikā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession.
Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession.
Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Adhammakamme vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Anāpatti—
There is no offense:
dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ sikkhamānaṁ vuṭṭhāpeti,
if she gives the full admission to a trainee nun who has trained in the six rules for two years;
ummattikāya,
if she is insane;
ādikammikāyāti.
if she is the first offender.
Tatiyasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.
The third training rule is finished.