Tiracchānavijjāvācana

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Cittāgāravagga

The subchapter on galleries

50. Tiracchānavijjāvācanasikkhāpada

Teaching worldly subjects

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 chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ vācenti.

At that time the nuns from the group of six were teaching worldly subjects.

Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

People complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ vācessanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.

“How can the nuns teach worldly subjects? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!”

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 them,

“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ vācessantī”ti …pe…

“How can the nuns from the group of six do this?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ vācentī”ti?

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

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked them …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo tiracchānavijjaṁ vācessanti.

“How can the nuns from the group of six 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 tiracchānavijjaṁ vāceyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun teaches worldly subjects, 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.

Tiracchānavijjā nāma

Worldly subjects:

yaṁ kiñci bāhirakaṁ anatthasaṁhitaṁ.

whatever is external to the Buddha’s Teaching, not connected with the goal.

Vāceyyāti

Teaches:

padena vāceti, pade pade āpatti pācittiyassa.

if she teaches by the line, then for every line she commits an offense entailing confession.

Akkharāya vāceti, akkharakkharāya āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she teaches by the syllable, then for every syllable she commits an offense entailing confession.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

lekhaṁ vāceti,

if she teaches writing;

dhāraṇaṁ vāceti,

if she teaches protective verses;

guttatthāya parittaṁ vāceti,

if she teaches verses for the purpose of protection;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Dasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The tenth training rule is finished.

Cittāgāravaggo pañcamo.

The fifth subchapter on galleries is finished.