Paṭibāhana

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Naggavagga

The subchapter on nakedness

27. Paṭibāhanasikkhāpada

Blocking robe-cloth distribution

Origin story

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhunisaṅghassa akālacīvaraṁ uppannaṁ hoti.

At that time out-of-season robe-cloth had been given to the Sangha of nuns,

Atha kho bhikkhunisaṅgho taṁ cīvaraṁ bhājetukāmo sannipati.

and the Sangha gathered to share it out.

Tena kho pana samayena thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā antevāsiniyo bhikkhuniyo pakkantā honti.

Just then the nuns who were pupils of the nun Thullanandā were away.

Thullanandā bhikkhunī tā bhikkhuniyo etadavoca—

Thullanandā said to the nuns:

“ayye, bhikkhuniyo pakkantā, na tāva cīvaraṁ bhājīyissatī”ti.

“Venerables, there are nuns who are away. We cannot distribute the robe-cloth until they get back.”

Cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāhi.

And she blocked the distribution of robe-cloth.

Bhikkhuniyo na tāva cīvaraṁ bhājīyissatīti pakkamiṁsu.

Since the robe-cloth could not be distributed until those nuns returned, other nuns left.

Thullanandā bhikkhunī antevāsinīsu bhikkhunīsu āgatāsu taṁ cīvaraṁ bhājāpesi.

Then, when her pupils returned, Thullanandā had that robe-cloth distributed.

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

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,

“kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā dhammikaṁ cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāhissatī”ti …pe…

“How could Venerable Thullanandā block a legitimate distribution of robe-cloth?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī dhammikaṁ cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāhatī”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 dhammikaṁ cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāhissati.

“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 dhammikaṁ cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāheyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun blocks a legitimate distribution of 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.

Dhammiko nāma cīvaravibhaṅgo

A legitimate distribution of robe-cloth:

samaggo bhikkhunisaṅgho sannipatitvā bhājeti.

it is distributed by a unanimous Sangha of nuns.

Paṭibāheyyāti

Blocks:

kathaṁ imaṁ cīvaraṁ na bhājeyyāti paṭibāhati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

if she blocks it with the thought, “What can be done so that this robe-cloth isn’t distributed?”, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

Dhammike dhammikasaññā paṭibāhati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, and she blocks it, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Dhammike vematikā paṭibāhati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she blocks it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Dhammike adhammikasaññā paṭibāhati, anāpatti.

If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she blocks it, there is no offense.

Adhammike dhammikasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Adhammike vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Adhammike adhammikasaññā, anāpatti.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

ānisaṁsaṁ dassetvā paṭibāhati,

if she blocks it after demonstrating a benefit;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Sattamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The seventh training rule is finished.