Sahajīvinī-ananuggahaṇa

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Gabbhinivagga

The subchapter on pregnant women

68. Sahajīvinīsikkhāpada

Not guiding a disciple after ordination

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 sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā dve vassāni neva anuggaṇhāti na anuggaṇhāpeti.

At that time the nun Thullanandā gave the full admission to a disciple, but then, for the next two years, neither guided her nor had her guided.

Tā bālā honti abyattā;

They were ignorant and incompetent,

na jānanti kappiyaṁ vā akappiyaṁ vā.

and they did not know what was allowable and what was not.

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

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,

“kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā dve vassāni neva anuggaṇhissati na anuggaṇhāpessatī”ti …pe…

“How can Venerable Thullanandā give the full admission to a disciple, and then neither guide her nor have her guided for two years?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā dve vassāni neva anuggaṇhāti na anuggaṇhāpetī”ti?

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

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked her …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā dve vassāni neva anuggaṇhissati na anuggaṇhāpessati.

“How can 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 sahajīviniṁ vuṭṭhāpetvā dve vassāni neva anuggaṇheyya na anuggaṇhāpeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun gives the full admission to a disciple, and then, for the next two years, neither guides her nor has her guided, 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.

Sahajīvinī nāma

A disciple:

saddhivihārinī vuccati.

a student is what is meant.

Vuṭṭhāpetvāti

Gives the full admission:

upasampādetvā.

gives the full ordination.

Dve vassānīti

Two years:

dve saṁvaccharāni.

two twelve-month periods.

Neva anuggaṇheyyāti

Neither guides her:

na sayaṁ anuggaṇheyya uddesena paripucchāya ovādena anusāsaniyā.

she does not herself guide her—through recitation, through questioning, through instruction, through teaching.

Na anuggaṇhāpeyyāti

Nor has her guided:

na aññaṁ āṇāpeyya

she does not ask anyone else.

“dve vassāni neva anuggaṇhissāmi na anuggaṇhāpessāmī”ti dhuraṁ nikkhittamatte āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she thinks, “I’ll neither guide her nor have her guided for two years,” then by the mere fact of abandoning her duty, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

sati antarāye,

if there is an obstacle;

pariyesitvā na labhati,

if she searches for someone to guide her, but cannot find anyone;

gilānāya,

if she is sick;

āpadāsu,

if there is an emergency;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Aṭṭhamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The eighth training rule is finished.