Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga - Saṅghādisesa 3: Being Alone Outside the Monastery.
- Translated from the Pali by Bhikkhu Brahmali. (More copyright information)
Origin story
1At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, a nun who was a pupil of Bhaddā Kāpilānī had an argument with the nuns and then went to her relatives’ village. Not seeing her pupil anywhere, Bhaddā Kāpilānī asked the nuns:
“Where’s so-and-so? She’s disappeared.”
“She disappeared, Venerable, after arguing with the nuns.”
“My dears, her relatives live in such-and-such a village. Go there and look for her.”
The nuns went there, and when they saw her, they said to her, “Why did you go alone, Venerable? We hope you weren’t assaulted?”
“I wasn’t.”
2The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, “How could a nun walk to the next village by herself?” …
“Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?”
“It’s true, Sir.”
The Buddha rebuked her …
“How could a nun do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
3‘If a nun walks to the next inhabited area by herself, then that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.’”
4In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the nuns.
5On one occasion two nuns were traveling from Sāketa to Sāvatthī. On the way they had to cross a river. They went to a boatman and said:
“Please take us across.”
“I’m not able, Venerables, to take both of you across at the same time.” And so they crossed individually, alone with the boatman. When he had crossed with the first nun, he raped her. And after returning to the first bank, he raped the other nun as well. Later, when they were reunited, they asked each other, “Venerable, I hope you weren’t assaulted?”
“I was. And you, Venerable, were you assaulted?”
“I was, too.”
6They then continued on to Sāvatthī and told the nuns there what had happened. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them:
“How could a nun cross a river by herself?” They told the monks, who in turn told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks:
“Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?”
“It’s true, Sir.”
The Buddha rebuked them …
“How could a nun do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
7‘If a nun walks to the next inhabited area by herself or crosses a river by herself, then that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.’”
8In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the nuns.
9On one occasion a number of nuns were walking through the Kosalan country on their way to Sāvatthī, when one evening they arrived at a certain village. One of the nuns was beautiful and graceful, and a certain man fell in love with her as soon as he saw her. Then, as he was preparing sleeping places for those nuns, he prepared hers to one side. And that nun thought, “This man is obsessed with me. If I go there for the night, I’ll get into trouble.” Then, without informing the nuns, she went to a certain family and slept there.
When night arrived, that man went searching for that nun, and as he did so he bumped into the other nuns. Not seeing that nun anywhere, the nuns said, “No doubt she has left with a man.”
10The following morning that nun returned to the nuns, and they said to her, “Venerable, why did you leave with a man?”
“I didn’t leave with a man, Venerables.”
She then told the nuns what had happened. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, “How could a nun spend the night apart by herself?” …
“Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?”
“It’s true, Sir.”
The Buddha rebuked her … “How could a nun do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
11‘If a nun walks to the next inhabited area by herself or crosses a river by herself or spends the night apart by herself, then that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.’”
12In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the nuns.
13On one occasion a number of nuns were traveling through the Kosalan country on their way to Sāvatthī. One of the nuns, needing to defecate, stayed behind by herself, and then followed behind the others. People saw her and raped her. She then went to the other nuns, and they said to her, “Why did you stay behind by yourself, Venerable? We hope you weren’t assaulted?”
“I was.”
14The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, “How could a nun lag behind her companions by herself?” …
“Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?”
“It’s true, Sir.”
The Buddha rebuked her … “How could a nun do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
Final ruling
15‘If a nun walks to the next inhabited area by herself or crosses a river by herself or spends the night apart by herself or lags behind her companions by herself, then that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.’”
Definitions
16A: 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.
17Walks to the next inhabited area by herself: if she crosses the boundary of an enclosed inhabited area with her first foot, she commits a serious offense. If she then crosses it with her second foot, she commits an offense entailing suspension.
18If she enters the vicinity of an unenclosed inhabited area with her first foot, she commits a serious offense. If she then enters it with her second foot, she commits an offense entailing suspension.
19Or crosses a river by herself: A river: wherever, after covering the three circles, the sarong gets wet when the nun is crossing.
20When she has crossed with the first foot, she commits a serious offense. When she has crossed with the second foot, she commits an offense entailing suspension.
21Or spends the night apart by herself: if, at dawn, she is in the process of going beyond arm’s reach of her companion nun, she commits a serious offense. When she has gone beyond, she commits an offense entailing suspension.
22Or lags behind her companions by herself: if, in an uninhabited area, in the wilderness, she is in the process of going beyond the range of sight or the range of hearing of her companion nun, she commits a serious offense. When she has gone beyond, she commits an offense entailing suspension.
23That too: this is said with reference to the preceding offenses.
24An immediate offense: there is an offense as soon as the misconduct is committed, and no pressing is required.
25Entailing sending away: she is sent away from the Sangha.
26Suspension: … Therefore, too, it is called an offense entailing suspension.
Non-offenses
27There is no offense: if her companion nun has left or disrobed or died or joined another faction; if there is an emergency; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.
28The third offense entailing suspension is finished.
1p_2V_2245, msdiv687Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena bhaddāya kāpilāniyā antevāsinī bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ bhaṇḍitvā gāmakaṁ ñātikulaṁ agamāsi. Bhaddā kāpilānī taṁ bhikkhuniṁ apassantī bhikkhuniyo pucchi—
“Kahaṁ itthannāmā, na dissatī”ti.
“Bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ, ayye, bhaṇḍitvā na dissatī”ti.
“Ammā, amukasmiṁ gāmake etissā ñātikulaṁ. Tattha gantvā vicinathā”ti.
Bhikkhunīyo tattha gantvā taṁ bhikkhuniṁ passitvā etadavocuṁ: “Kissa tvaṁ, ayye, ekikā āgatā, kaccisi appadhaṁsitā”ti?
“Appadhaṁsitāmhi, ayye”ti.
2p_2V_2246Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā … pe … tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti: “Kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī ekā gāmantaraṁ gacchissatī”ti … pe …
“Saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī ekā gāmantaraṁ gacchatī”ti?
“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
Vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe …
Kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī ekā gāmantaraṁ gacchissati. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
3p_2V_2247“Yā pana bhikkhunī ekā gāmantaraṁ gaccheyya, ayampi bhikkhunī paṭhamāpattikaṁ dhammaṁ āpannā nissāraṇīyaṁ saṁghādisesan”ti.
4p_2V_2248Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhunīnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.
5p_2V_2249, msdiv688Tena kho pana samayena dve bhikkhuniyo sāketā sāvatthiṁ addhānamaggappaṭipannā honti. Antarāmagge nadī taritabbā hoti. Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo nāvike upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ:
“Sādhu no, āvuso, tārethā”ti.
“Nāyye, sakkā ubho sakiṁ tāretun”ti. Eko ekaṁ uttāresi. Uttiṇṇo uttiṇṇaṁ dūsesi. Anuttiṇṇo anuttiṇṇaṁ dūsesi. Tā pacchā samāgantvā pucchiṁsu— “Kaccisi, ayye, appadhaṁsitā”ti?
“Padhaṁsitāmhi, ayye. Tvaṁ pana, ayye, appadhaṁsitā”ti?
“Padhaṁsitāmhi, ayye”ti.
6p_2V_2250Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo sāvatthiṁ gantvā bhikkhunīnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā … pe … tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti:
“Kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī ekā nadīpāraṁ gacchissatī”ti. Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. Bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ … pe …
“Saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī ekā nadīpāraṁ gacchatī”ti?
“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
Vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe …
Kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī ekā nadīpāraṁ gacchissati. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
7p_2V_2251“Yā pana bhikkhunī ekā vā gāmantaraṁ gaccheyya, ekā vā nadīpāraṁ gaccheyya, ayampi bhikkhunī paṭhamāpattikaṁ dhammaṁ āpannā nissāraṇīyaṁ saṁghādisesan”ti.
8p_2V_2252Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhunīnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.
9p_2V_2253, msdiv689Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhuniyo kosalesu janapade sāvatthiṁ gacchantā sāyaṁ aññataraṁ gāmaṁ upagacchiṁsu. Tattha aññatarā bhikkhunī abhirūpā hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā. Aññataro puriso tassā bhikkhuniyā saha dassanena paṭibaddhacitto hoti. Atha kho so puriso tāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ seyyaṁ paññapento tassā bhikkhuniyā seyyaṁ ekamantaṁ paññāpesi. Atha kho sā bhikkhunī sallakkhetvā— “pariyuṭṭhito ayaṁ puriso; sace rattiṁ āgacchissati, vissaro me bhavissatī”ti, bhikkhuniyo anāpucchā aññataraṁ kulaṁ gantvā seyyaṁ kappesi.
Atha kho so puriso rattiṁ āgantvā taṁ bhikkhuniṁ gavesanto bhikkhuniyo ghaṭṭesi. Bhikkhunīyo taṁ bhikkhuniṁ apassantiyo evamāhaṁsu— “nissaṁsayaṁ kho sā bhikkhunī purisena saddhiṁ nikkhantā”ti.
10p_2V_2254Atha kho sā bhikkhunī tassā rattiyā accayena yena tā bhikkhuniyo tenupasaṅkami. Bhikkhunīyo taṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavocuṁ: “Kissa tvaṁ, ayye, purisena saddhiṁ nikkhantā”ti?
“Nāhaṁ, ayye, purisena saddhiṁ nikkhantā”ti.
Bhikkhunīnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi. Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā … pe … tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti: “Kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī ekā rattiṁ vippavasissatī”ti … pe …
“Saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī ekā rattiṁ vippavasatī”ti?
“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
Vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī ekā rattiṁ vippavasissati. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
11p_2V_2255“Yā pana bhikkhunī ekā vā gāmantaraṁ gaccheyya, ekā vā nadīpāraṁ gaccheyya, ekā vā rattiṁ vippavaseyya, ayampi bhikkhunī paṭhamāpattikaṁ dhammaṁ āpannā nissāraṇīyaṁ saṁghādisesan”ti.
12p_2V_2256Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhunīnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.
13p_2V_2257, msdiv690Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhuniyo kosalesu janapade sāvatthiṁ addhānamaggappaṭipannā honti. Tattha aññatarā bhikkhunī vaccena pīḷitā ekikā ohīyitvā pacchā agamāsi. Manussā taṁ bhikkhuniṁ passitvā dūsesuṁ. Atha kho sā bhikkhunī yena tā bhikkhuniyo tenupasaṅkami. Bhikkhunīyo taṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavocuṁ: “Kissa tvaṁ, ayye, ekikā ohīnā, kaccisi appadhaṁsitā”ti?
“Padhaṁsitāmhi, ayye”ti.
14p_2V_2258Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā … pe … tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti: kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī ekā gaṇamhā ohīyissatīti … pe …
“Saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī ekā gaṇamhā ohīyatī”ti?
“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
Vigarahi buddho bhagavā … pe … kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī ekā gaṇamhā ohīyissati. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya … pe … evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
15p_2V_2259, msdiv691“Yā pana bhikkhunī ekā vā gāmantaraṁ gaccheyya, ekā vā nadīpāraṁ gaccheyya, ekā vā rattiṁ vippavaseyya, ekā vā gaṇamhā ohīyeyya, ayampi bhikkhunī paṭhamāpattikaṁ dhammaṁ āpannā nissāraṇīyaṁ saṁghādisesan”ti. (3:11)
16p_2V_2260, msdiv692Yā panā'ti yā yādisā … pe … bhikkhunī'ti … pe … ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti.
17p_2V_2261Ekā vā gāmantaraṁ gaccheyyā'ti parikkhittassa gāmassa parikkhepaṁ paṭhamaṁ pādaṁ atikkāmentiyā āpatti thullaccayassa, dutiyaṁ pādaṁ atikkāmentiyā āpatti saṁghādisesassa.
18p_2V_2262Aparikkhittassa gāmassa upacāraṁ paṭhamaṁ pādaṁ atikkāmentiyā āpatti thullaccayassa. Dutiyaṁ pādaṁ atikkāmentiyā āpatti saṁghādisesassa.
19p_2V_2263Ekā vā nadīpāraṁ gaccheyyā'ti nadī nāma timaṇḍalaṁ paṭicchādetvā yattha katthaci uttarantiyā bhikkhuniyā antaravāsako temiyati.
20Paṭhamaṁ pādaṁ uttarantiyā āpatti thullaccayassa. Dutiyaṁ pādaṁ uttarantiyā āpatti saṁghādisesassa. p_2V_2264
21Ekā vā rattiṁ vippavaseyyā'ti saha aruṇuggamanā dutiyikāya bhikkhuniyā hatthapāsaṁ vijahantiyā āpatti thullaccayassa. Vijahite āpatti saṁghādisesassa.
22p_2V_2265Ekā vā gaṇamhā ohīyeyyā'ti agāmake araññe dutiyikāya bhikkhuniyā dassanūpacāraṁ vā savanūpacāraṁ vā vijahantiyā āpatti thullaccayassa. Vijahite āpatti saṁghādisesassa.
23p_2V_2266Ayampī'ti purimāyo upādāya vuccati.
24p_2V_2267Paṭhamāpattikan'ti saha vatthujjhācārā āpajjati asamanubhāsanāya.
25p_2V_2268Nissāraṇīyan'ti saṁghamhā nissārīyati.
26p_2V_2269Saṁghādiseso'ti … pe … tenapi vuccati saṁghādisesoti.
27p_2V_2270, msdiv693Anāpatti— dutiyikā bhikkhunī pakkantā vā hoti vibbhantā vā kālaṅkatā vā pakkhasaṅkantā vā, āpadāsu, ummattikāya, ādikammikāyāti.
28p_2V_2271Tatiyasaṁghādisesasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.