Gaṇacīvara

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Naggavagga

The subchapter on nakedness

26. Gaṇacīvarasikkhāpada

Hindering robe-cloth for the community

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 thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā upaṭṭhākakulaṁ thullanandaṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca—

a family that was supporting the nun Thullanandā said to her,

“bhikkhunisaṅghassa, ayye, cīvaraṁ dassāmā”ti.

“Venerable, we’re going to give robe-cloth to the Sangha of nuns.”

Thullanandā bhikkhunī—

She replied,

“tumhe bahukiccā bahukaraṇīyā”ti antarāyaṁ akāsi.

“You’re very busy,” and she created an obstacle for them.

Tena kho pana samayena tassa kulassa gharaṁ ḍayhati.

Soon afterwards the house of that family burned down.

Te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

They then complained and criticized her,

“kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā amhākaṁ deyyadhammaṁ antarāyaṁ karissati.

“How could Venerable Thullanandā create an obstacle for our gift?

Ubhayenāmha paribāhirā bhogehi ca puññena cā”ti.

Now we have neither possessions nor merit.”

Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ.

The nuns heard the complaints of those people,

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

and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,

“kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā gaṇassa cīvaralābhaṁ antarāyaṁ karissatī”ti …pe…

“How could Venerable Thullanandā create an obstacle for the community to get robe-cloth?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī gaṇassa cīvaralābhaṁ antarāyaṁ akāsī”ti?

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

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked her …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī gaṇassa cīvaralābhaṁ antarāyaṁ karissati.

“How could the nun Thullanandā 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:

Final ruling

“Yā pana bhikkhunī gaṇassa cīvaralābhaṁ antarāyaṁ kareyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun creates an obstacle for the community to get robe-cloth, 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.

Gaṇo nāma

The community:

bhikkhunisaṅgho vuccati.

the Sangha of nuns is what is meant.

Cīvaraṁ nāma

Robe-cloth:

channaṁ cīvarānaṁ aññataraṁ cīvaraṁ vikappanupagaṁ pacchimaṁ.

one of the six kinds of robe-cloth, but not smaller than what can be assigned to another.

Antarāyaṁ kareyyāti

Creates an obstacle:

“kathaṁ ime cīvaraṁ na dadeyyun”ti antarāyaṁ karoti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

if she creates an obstacle with the thought, “What can be done so that these people don’t give robe-cloth?”, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Aññaṁ parikkhāraṁ antarāyaṁ karoti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If she creates an obstacle for another requisite, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Sambahulānaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ vā ekabhikkhuniyā vā anupasampannāya vā cīvaraṁ vā aññaṁ vā parikkhāraṁ antarāyaṁ karoti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If she creates an obstacle for a number of nuns or for a single nun or for someone who is not fully ordained to get robe-cloth or another requisite, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

ānisaṁsaṁ dassetvā nivāreti,

if she can show a benefit in obstructing them;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Chaṭṭhasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The sixth training rule is finished.