Yāna

Theravāda Vinaya

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

Bhikkhunivibhaṅga

The Nuns’ Analysis

Pācittiyakaṇḍa

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

Chattupāhanavagga

The subchapter on sunshades and sandals

85. Yānasikkhāpada

Traveling in a vehicle

Origin story

First substory

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 chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo yānena yāyanti.

the nuns from the group of six were traveling in vehicles.

Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

People complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo yānena yāyissanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.

“How can the nuns travel in a vehicle? 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—

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo yānena yāyissantī”ti …pe…

“How can the nuns from the group of six travel in a vehicle?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo yānena yāyantī”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 yānena yāyissanti.

“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:

First preliminary ruling

“Yā pana bhikkhunī yānena yāyeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun travels in a vehicle, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhunīnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.

In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the nuns.

Second substory

Tena kho pana samayena aññatarā bhikkhunī gilānā hoti, na sakkoti padasā gantuṁ …pe…

Soon afterwards there was a sick nun who was not able to travel on foot. …

bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe…

They told the Buddha. The Buddha then had the Sangha gathered and addressed the monks:

anujānāmi, bhikkhave, gilānāya bhikkhuniyā yānaṁ.

“Monks, I allow a sick nun to use a vehicle.

Evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

And so, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

“Yā pana bhikkhunī agilānā yānena yāyeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun who is not sick travels in a vehicle, 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.

Agilānā nāma

Who is not sick:

sakkoti padasā gantuṁ.

who is able to travel on foot.

Gilānā nāma

Who is sick:

na sakkoti padasā gantuṁ.

who is unable to travel on foot.

Yānaṁ nāma

A vehicle:

vayhaṁ ratho sakaṭaṁ sandamānikā sivikā pāṭaṅkī.

a wagon, a carriage, a cart, a chariot, a palanquin, a litter.

Yāyeyyāti

Travels:

sakimpi yānena yāyati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

if she travels in a vehicle even once, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

Agilānā agilānasaññā yānena yāyati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she is not sick, and she does not perceive herself as sick, and she travels in a vehicle, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Agilānā vematikā yānena yāyati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she is not sick, but she is unsure of it, and she travels in a vehicle, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Agilānā gilānasaññā yānena yāyati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she is not sick, but she perceives herself as sick, and she travels in a vehicle, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Gilānā agilānasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If she is sick, but she does not perceive herself as sick, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Gilānā vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If she is sick, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Gilānā gilānasaññā, anāpatti.

If she is sick, and she perceives herself as sick, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

gilānāya,

if she is sick;

āpadāsu,

if there is an emergency;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Dutiyasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The second training rule is finished.