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23. Bhikkhunupassayasikkhāpada

The training rule on the nuns’ dwelling place

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.
At one time when the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu,

Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo ovadanti.
the monks from the group of six went to the nuns’ dwelling place and instructed the nuns from the group of six.

Bhikkhuniyo chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo etadavocuṁ—
Soon afterwards, other nuns said to the nuns from the group of six,

“ethāyye, ovādaṁ gamissāmā”ti.
“Come, Venerables, let’s go to the instruction.”

“Yampi mayaṁ, ayye, gaccheyyāma ovādassa kāraṇā, ayyā chabbaggiyā idheva āgantvā amhe ovadantī”ti.
“There’s no need. The monks from the group of six came and instructed us right here.”

Bhikkhuniyo ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
The nuns complained and criticized the monks from the group of six,

“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissantī”ti.
“How could the monks from the group of six go and instruct the nuns at their dwelling place?”

Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.
Then those nuns told the monks.

Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
The monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks,

“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissantī”ti …pe…
“How could those monks do this?”…

“saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadathā”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that you did this?”

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

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…
The Buddha rebuked them …

kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadissatha.
“Foolish men, how could you do this?

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

evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

“Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a monk goes to the nuns’ dwelling place, and then instructs them, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

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

Tena kho pana samayena mahāpajāpati gotamī gilānā hoti.
Soon afterwards Mahāpajāpati Gotamī became sick.

Therā bhikkhū yena mahāpajāpati gotamī tenupasaṅkamiṁsu;
The senior monks went to see her

upasaṅkamitvā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavocuṁ—“
and said,

kacci, gotami, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyan”ti?
“We hope you’re bearing up, Gotamī, we hope you’re getting better?”

“Na me, ayyā, khamanīyaṁ na yāpanīyaṁ”.
“I’m not bearing up, Venerables, and I’m not getting better.

“Iṅghayyā, dhammaṁ desethā”ti.
Please give me a teaching.”

“Na, bhagini, kappati bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo dhammaṁ desetun”ti kukkuccāyantā na desesuṁ.
“It’s not allowable for us to go and teach the nuns at their dwelling place.” And being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not teach her.

Atha kho bhagavā pubbaṇhasamayaṁ nivāsetvā pattacīvaramādāya yena mahāpajāpati gotamī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā paññatte āsane nisīdi.
Soon afterwards, after robing up in the morning, the Buddha took his bowl and robe and went to Mahāpajāpati Gotamī where he sat down on the prepared seat.

Nisajja kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca—
He said to her,

“kacci, gotami, khamanīyaṁ, kacci yāpanīyan”ti?
“I hope you’re bearing up, Gotamī, I hope you’re getting better?”

“Pubbe me, bhante, therā bhikkhū āgantvā dhammaṁ desenti.
“Previously, Sir, the senior monks would come and teach me,

Tena me phāsu hoti.
and because of that I would be comfortable.

Idāni pana—‘bhagavatā paṭikkhittan’ti, kukkuccāyantā na desenti.
But now that this has been prohibited by the Buddha, they don’t teach because they’re afraid of wrongdoing.

Tena me na phāsu hotī”ti.
Because of that I’m not comfortable.”

Atha kho bhagavā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ dhammiyā kathāya sandassetvā samādapetvā samuttejetvā sampahaṁsetvā uṭṭhāyāsanā pakkāmi.
After instructing, inspiring, and gladdening her with a teaching, the Buddha got up from his seat and left.

Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—
Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“anujānāmi, bhikkhave, bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā gilānaṁ bhikkhuniṁ ovadituṁ.
“Monks, I allow you to go and instruct a sick nun at her dwelling place.

Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

“Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadeyya, aññatra samayā, pācittiyaṁ.
‘If a monk goes to the nuns’ dwelling place and then instructs them, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Tatthāyaṁ samayo. Gilānā hoti bhikkhunī—ayaṁ tattha samayo”ti.
This is the appropriate occasion: a nun is sick.’”

Yo panāti
A:

yo yādiso …pe…
whoever …

bhikkhūti
Monk:

…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.

Bhikkhunupassayo nāma
The nuns’ dwelling place:

yattha bhikkhuniyo ekarattampi vasanti.
wherever nuns stay, even for a single night.

Upasaṅkamitvāti
Goes to:

tattha gantvā.
goes there.

Bhikkhunī nāma
A nun:

ubhatosaṅghe upasampannā.
she has been given the full ordination by both Sanghas.

Ovadeyyāti
Instructs:

aṭṭhahi garudhammehi ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
if he instructs about the eight important principles, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Aññatra samayāti
Except on an appropriate occasion:

ṭhapetvā samayaṁ.
unless it is an appropriate occasion.

Gilānā nāma bhikkhunī
A sick nun:

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

Upasampannāya upasampannasaññī bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā aññatra samayā ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If she is fully ordained, and he perceives her as such, and he goes to her dwelling place and then instructs her, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Upasampannāya vematiko bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā aññatra samayā ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If she is fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, and he goes to her dwelling place and then instructs her, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Upasampannāya anupasampannasaññī bhikkhunupassayaṁ upasaṅkamitvā aññatra samayā ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If she is fully ordained, but he does not perceive her as such, and he goes to her dwelling place and then instructs her, except on an appropriate occasion, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Aññena dhammena ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If he instructs her with another teaching, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Ekatoupasampannāya ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If he instructs a nun who is fully ordained only on one side, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Anupasampannāya upasampannasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If she is not fully ordained, but he perceives her as such, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Anupasampannāya vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If she is not fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Anupasampannāya anupasampannasaññī, anāpatti.
If she is not fully ordained, and he does not perceive her as such, there is no offense.

Anāpatti—
There is no offense:

samaye,
if it is an appropriate occasion;

uddesaṁ dento,
if he recites;

paripucchaṁ dento,
if he tests them;

“osārehi ayyā”ti vuccamāno osāreti,
if he recites when asked to do so;

pañhaṁ pucchati,
if he asks a question;

pañhaṁ puṭṭho katheti,
if he replies when asked a question;

aññassatthāya bhaṇantaṁ bhikkhuniyo suṇanti,
if he is speaking for the benefit of someone else and the nuns listen in;

sikkhamānāya,
if it is to a trainee nun;

sāmaṇeriyā,
if it is to a novice nun;

ummattakassa,
if he is insane;

ādikammikassāti.
if he is the first offender.

Bhikkhunupassayasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ tatiyaṁ.
The training rule on the nuns’ dwelling place, the third, is finished.