Gihiveyyāvacca

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Cittāgāravagga

The subchapter on galleries

44. Gihiveyyāvaccasikkhāpada

Serving householders

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 bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karonti.

the nuns were providing services for householders.

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

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karissantī”ti …pe…

“How can nuns provide services for householders?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karontī”ti?

“Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked them …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karissanti.

“How can nuns 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 gihiveyyāvaccaṁ kareyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun provides services for a householder, 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.

Gihiveyyāvaccaṁ nāma

Services for a householder:

agārikassa yāguṁ vā bhattaṁ vā khādanīyaṁ vā pacati, sāṭakaṁ vā veṭhanaṁ vā dhovati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

if she cooks congee, a meal, or fresh food for a householder, or she washes a wrap garment or a turban for them, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

yāgupāne,

if it is a congee drink;

saṅghabhatte,

if it is a meal for the Sangha;

cetiyapūjāya,

if it is to venerate a shrine;

attano veyyāvaccakarassa yāguṁ vā bhattaṁ vā khādanīyaṁ vā pacati, sāṭakaṁ vā veṭhanaṁ vā dhovati,

if she cooks congee, a meal, or fresh food for her own service provider, or she washes a wrap garment or a turban for them;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Catutthasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The fourth training rule is finished.