Āvasathacīvara

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Cittāgāravagga

The subchapter on galleries

47. Āvasathacīvarasikkhāpada

Not relinquishing a communal robe

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 thullanandā bhikkhunī āvasathacīvaraṁ anissajjitvā paribhuñjati.

At that time the nun Thullanandā did not relinquish the communal robe, but continued using it.

Aññā utuniyo bhikkhuniyo na labhanti.

Other menstruating nuns did not get to use it.

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

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,

“kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā āvasathacīvaraṁ anissajjitvā paribhuñjissatī”ti …pe…

“How could Venerable Thullanandā not relinquish the communal robe, but continue using it?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī āvasathacīvaraṁ anissajjitvā paribhuñjatī”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 āvasathacīvaraṁ anissajjitvā paribhuñjissati.

“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 āvasathacīvaraṁ anissajjitvā paribhuñjeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun does not relinquish a communal robe, but continues to use it, 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.

Āvasathacīvaraṁ nāma

A communal robe:

“utuniyo bhikkhuniyo paribhuñjantū”ti dinnaṁ hoti.

it is given specifically for the use of menstruating nuns.

Anissajjitvā paribhuñjeyyāti

Does not relinquish, but continues to use it:

dvetisso rattiyo paribhuñjitvā catutthadivase dhovitvā bhikkhuniyā vā sikkhamānāya vā sāmaṇeriyā vā anissajjitvā paribhuñjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

if she uses it for two or three days, washes it on the fourth day, and then uses it again without relinquishing it to a nun or a trainee nun or a novice nun, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

Anissajjite anissajjitasaññā paribhuñjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If it has not been relinquished, and she perceives that it has not, and she uses it, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Anissajjite vematikā paribhuñjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If it has not been relinquished, but she is unsure of it, and she uses it, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Anissajjite nissajjitasaññā paribhuñjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If it has not been relinquished, but she perceives that it has, and she uses it, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Nissajjite anissajjitasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If it has been relinquished, but she perceives that it has not, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Nissajjite vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If it has been relinquished, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Nissajjite nissajjitasaññā anāpatti.

If it has been relinquished, and she perceives that it has, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

nissajjitvā paribhuñjati,

if she relinquishes it and then uses it;

puna pariyāyena paribhuñjati,

if she uses it again at the next turn;

aññā utuniyo bhikkhuniyo na honti,

if there are no other menstruating nuns;

acchinnacīvarikāya,

if her robe has been stolen;

naṭṭhacīvarikāya,

if her robe has been lost;

āpadāsu,

if there is an emergency;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Sattamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The seventh training rule is finished.