Khiyyanadhamma

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Kumāribhūtavagga

The subchapter on unmarried women

76. Khīyanadhammasikkhāpada

Agreeing to stop ordaining, but then criticizing it

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 caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ upasaṅkamitvā vuṭṭhāpanasammutiṁ yācati.

the nun Caṇḍakāḷī approached the Sangha of nuns and asked for approval to give the full admission.

Atha kho bhikkhunisaṅgho caṇḍakāḷiṁ bhikkhuniṁ paricchinditvā—

The Sangha of nuns

“alaṁ tāva te, ayye, vuṭṭhāpitenā”ti, vuṭṭhāpanasammutiṁ na adāsi.

decided that she should not,

Caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī “sādhū”ti paṭissuṇi.

and Caṇḍakāḷī consented.

Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhunisaṅgho aññāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ vuṭṭhāpanasammutiṁ deti.

Soon afterwards the Sangha of nuns gave approval to other nuns to give the full admission.

Caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī ujjhāyati khiyyati vipāceti—

Caṇḍakāḷī complained and criticized it,

“ahameva nūna bālā, ahameva nūna alajjinī;

“So it seems I’m ignorant and shameless,

yaṁ saṅgho aññāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ vuṭṭhāpanasammutiṁ deti, mayhameva na detī”ti.

since the Sangha gives approval to other nuns, but not to me.”

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

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,

“kathañhi nāma ayyā caṇḍakāḷī—

“How could Venerable Caṇḍakāḷī

‘alaṁ tāva te, ayye, vuṭṭhāpitenā’ti vuccamānā ‘sādhū’ti paṭissuṇitvā pacchā khīyanadhammaṁ āpajjissatī”ti …pe…

consent to not being approved to give the full admission, and then criticize it afterwards?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī ‘alaṁ tāva te, ayye, vuṭṭhāpitenā’ti vuccamānā ‘sādhū’ti paṭissuṇitvā pacchā khīyanadhammaṁ āpajjatī”ti?

“Is it true, monks, that the nun Caṇḍakāḷī did this?”

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked her …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī—

“How could the nun Caṇḍakāḷī

‘alaṁ tāva te, ayye, vuṭṭhāpitenā’ti vuccamānā ‘sādhū’ti paṭissuṇitvā pacchā khīyanadhammaṁ āpajjissati.

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—‘alaṁ tāva te, ayye, vuṭṭhāpitenā’ti vuccamānā ‘sādhū’ti paṭissuṇitvā pacchā khīyanadhammaṁ āpajjeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun is told, “Venerable, you’ve given enough full admissions for now,” and she consents, saying, “Fine,” but then criticizes it afterwards, 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.

Alaṁ tāva te, ayye, vuṭṭhāpitenāti

“Venerable, you’ve given enough full admissions for now”:

alaṁ tāva te, ayye, upasampāditena.

Venerable, you’ve given enough full ordinations for now.

“Sādhū”ti paṭissuṇitvā pacchā khīyanadhammaṁ āpajjati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she consents, saying, “Fine,” but then criticizes it afterwards, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

pakatiyā chandā dosā mohā bhayā karontaṁ khiyyati,

if she criticizes one who regularly acts out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, or fear;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Chaṭṭhasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The sixth training rule is finished.