Rattandhakāra

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Rattandhakāravagga

The subchapter on the dark of the night

11. Rattandhakārasikkhāpada

Meeting a man in the dark

Origin story

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 bhaddāya kāpilāniyā antevāsiniyā bhikkhuniyā ñātako puriso gāmakā sāvatthiṁ agamāsi kenacideva karaṇīyena.

a male relative of a nun who was a pupil of Bhaddā Kāpilānī went from his own village to Sāvatthī on some business.

Atha kho sā bhikkhunī tena purisena saddhiṁ rattandhakāre appadīpe ekenekā santiṭṭhatipi sallapatipi.

Then, in the dark of the night and without a lamp, that nun stood and talked alone with that man.

Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,

“kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī rattandhakāre appadīpe purisena saddhiṁ ekenekā santiṭṭhissatipi sallapissatipī”ti …pe…

“How could a nun do such a thing?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī rattandhakāre appadīpe purisena saddhiṁ ekenekā santiṭṭhatipi sallapatipī”ti?

“Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked her …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī rattandhakāre appadīpe purisena saddhiṁ ekenekā santiṭṭhissatipi sallapissatipi.

“How could a nun do such a thing?

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:

Final ruling

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

‘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

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.

Rattandhakāreti

In the dark of the night:

oggate sūriye.

when the sun has set.

Appadīpeti

Without a lamp:

anāloke.

without light.

Puriso nāma

A man:

manussapuriso na yakkho na peto na tiracchānagato viññū paṭibalo santiṭṭhituṁ sallapituṁ.

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.

Saddhinti

With:

ekato.

together.

Ekenekāti

Alone:

puriso ceva hoti bhikkhunī ca.

just the man and the nun.

Santiṭṭheyya vāti

Stands with:

purisassa hatthapāse tiṭṭhati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

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

Sallapeyya vāti

Talks with:

purisassa hatthapāse ṭhitā sallapati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

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

Hatthapāsaṁ vijahitvā santiṭṭhati vā sallapati vā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If she stands or talks outside of arm’s reach, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

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

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

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

yo koci viññū dutiyo hoti,

if she has a companion who understands;

arahopekkhā,

if she is not seeking privacy;

aññavihitā santiṭṭhati vā sallapati vā,

if she stands or talks thinking of something else;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Paṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The first training rule is finished.