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Translators: brahmali

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa
The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Chattupāhanavagga
The subchapter on sunshades and sandals

95. Pañhāpucchanasikkhāpada

The training rule on asking questions

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

Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchanti.
the nuns asked questions of a monk who had not given them permission.

Bhikkhū ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
The monks complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchissantī”ti …pe…
“How can nuns ask questions of a monk who hasn’t given them permission?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchantī”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 anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchissanti.
“How can 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 anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ puccheyya, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a nun asks a question of a monk who has not given her permission, 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.

Anokāsakatanti
Who has not given her permission:

anāpucchā.
without asking permission.

Bhikkhunti
A monk:

upasampannaṁ.
one who is fully ordained.

Pañhaṁ puccheyyāti
Asks a question:

suttante okāsaṁ kārāpetvā vinayaṁ vā abhidhammaṁ vā pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
if she gets permission to ask about the discourses, but she asks about the Monastic Law 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 the Monastic Law, but she asks about the discourses or philosophy, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Abhidhamme okāsaṁ kārāpetvā suttantaṁ vā vinayaṁ 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.

Anāpucchite anāpucchitasaññā pañhaṁ pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
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 vematikā 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 āpucchitasaññā 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.

Āpucchite anāpucchitasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If she has asked permission, but she does not perceive that she has, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Āpucchite vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If she has asked permission, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Āpucchite āpucchitasaññā, anāpatti.
If she has asked permission, and she perceives that she has, there is no offense.

Anāpatti—
There is no offense:

okāsaṁ kārāpetvā pucchati,
if she asks after getting permission;

anodissa okāsaṁ kārāpetvā yattha katthaci pucchati,
if she gets permission, but not in regard to a specific subject, and she then asks about any subject;

ummattikāya,
if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.
if she is the first offender.

Dvādasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.
The twelfth training rule is finished.