Light/Dark

Vinaya Piṭaka - Monastic Rules

Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga

Pācittiya 11: The Training Rule on Talking with a Male One to One in the Dark.

Origin story

1At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, a male relative of a nun who was a pupil of Bhaddā Kāpilānī went from his own village to Sāvatthī on some business. Then, in the dark of the night and without a lamp, that nun stood and talked alone with that man.

2The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, “How could a nun do such a thing?” … “Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?”


“It’s true, Sir.”

The Buddha rebuked her … “How could a nun do such a thing? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

3‘If, in the dark of the night without a lamp, a nun stands or talks alone with a man, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

4A: whoever … Nun: … 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.


5In the dark of the night: when the sun has set. Without a lamp: without light.

6A man: a human male, not a male spirit, not a male ghost, not a male animal. He understands and is capable of standing together and talking.

7With: together. Alone: just the man and the nun.

9Stands with: if she stands within arm’s reach of the man, she commits an offense entailing confession.

9Talks with: if she stands talking within arm’s reach of the man, she commits an offense entailing confession.

10If she stands or talks outside of arm’s reach, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If she stands or talks with a male spirit, a male ghost, a paṇḍaka, or a male animal in human form, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

11There is no offense: if she has a companion who understands; if she is not seeking privacy; if she stands or talks thinking of something else; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.

The first training rule is finished.

 

1p_2V_2671, msdiv838Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena bhaddāya kāpilāniyā antevāsiniyā bhikkhuniyā ñātako puriso gāmakā sāvatthiṁ agamāsi kenacideva karaṇīyena. Atha kho sā bhikkhunī tena purisena saddhiṁ rattandhakāre appadīpe ekenekā santiṭṭhatipi sallapatipi.

2p_2V_2672Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā … pe … tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti: “Kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī rattandhakāre appadīpe purisena saddhiṁ ekenekā santiṭṭhissatipi sallapissatipī”ti … pe … “Saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī rattandhakāre appadīpe purisena saddhiṁ ekenekā santiṭṭhatipi sallapatipī”ti?


“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī rattandhakāre appadīpe purisena saddhiṁ ekenekā santiṭṭhissatipi sallapissatipi. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

 

3p_2V_2673, msdiv839“Yā pana bhikkhunī rattandhakāre appadīpe purisena saddhiṁ ekenekā santiṭṭheyya vā sallapeyya vā, pācittiyan”ti.

 

4p_2V_2674, msdiv840Yā panā'ti yā yādisā … pe … bhikkhunī'ti … pe … ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti.


5p_2V_2675Rattandhakāre'ti oggate sūriye. Appadīpeti anāloke.

6p_2V_2676Puriso nāma manussapuriso na yakkho na peto na tiracchānagato viññū paṭibalo santiṭṭhituṁ sallapituṁ.

7p_2V_2677Saddhin'ti ekato. Ekenekā'ti puriso ceva hoti bhikkhunī ca.

8p_2V_2678Santiṭṭheyya vā'ti purisassa hatthapāse tiṭṭhati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

9p_2V_2679Sallapeyya vā'ti purisassa hatthapāse ṭhitā sallapati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

10p_2V_2680Hatthapāsaṁ vijahitvā santiṭṭhati vā sallapati vā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Yakkhena vā petena vā paṇḍakena vā tiracchānagatamanussaviggahena vā saddhiṁ santiṭṭhati vā sallapati vā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

 

11p_2V_2681, msdiv841Anāpatti—yo koci viññū dutiyo hoti, arahopekkhā, aññavihitā santiṭṭhati vā sallapati vā, ummattikāya, ādikammikāyāti.

p_2V_2682Paṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.