Bhikkhunī-ummaddāpana

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

90. Bhikkhuniummaddāpanasikkhāpada

Getting a massage from a nun

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 bhikkhuniyo bhikkhuniyā ummaddāpentipi parimaddāpentipi.

the nuns were having a nun massage and rub them.

Manussā vihāracārikaṁ āhiṇḍantā passitvā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

When people walking about the dwellings saw this, they complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo bhikkhuniyā ummaddāpessantipi parimaddāpessantipi, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.

“How can nuns get a nun to massage and rub them? 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 bhikkhuniyo bhikkhuniyā ummaddāpessantipi parimaddāpessantipī”ti …pe…

“How can nuns get a nun to massage and rub them?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo bhikkhuniyā ummaddāpentipi parimaddāpentipī”ti?

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

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked them …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo bhikkhuniyā ummaddāpessantipi parimaddāpessantipi.

“How can nuns 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 bhikkhuniyā ummaddāpeyya vā parimaddāpeyya vā, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun has a nun massage her or rub her, 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.

Bhikkhuniyāti

A nun:

aññāya bhikkhuniyā.

another nun.

Ummaddāpeyya vāti

If she has a nun massage her:

ummaddāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

if she gets her to massage her, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Parimaddāpeyya vāti

Or if she has a nun rub her:

sambāhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.

if she gets her to rub her, she commits an offense entailing confession.

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.

Sattamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The seventh training rule is finished.