Anāpucchā

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

94. Anāpucchāsikkhāpada

Sitting in front without permission

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 bhikkhussa purato anāpucchā āsane nisīdanti.

nuns sat down on seats in front of a monk without asking permission.

Bhikkhū ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—

The monks complained and criticized them,

“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo bhikkhussa purato anāpucchā āsane nisīdissantī”ti …pe…

“How can nuns sit down on seats in front of a monk without asking permission?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo bhikkhussa purato anāpucchā āsane nisīdantī”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 bhikkhussa purato anāpucchā āsane nisīdissanti.

“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 bhikkhussa purato anāpucchā āsane nisīdeyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun sits down on a seat in front of a monk without asking permission, 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.

Bhikkhussa puratoti

In front of a monk:

upasampannassa purato.

in front of one who is fully ordained.

Anāpucchāti

Without asking permission:

anapaloketvā.

without getting permission.

Āsane nisīdeyyāti

Sits down on a seat:

antamaso chamāyapi nisīdati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

even if she sits down on the ground, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

Anāpucchite anāpucchitasaññā āsane nisīdati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she has not asked permission, and she does not perceive that she has, and she sits down on a seat, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Anāpucchite vematikā āsane nisīdati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she has not asked permission, but she is unsure of it, and she sits down on a seat, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Anāpucchite āpucchitasaññā āsane nisīdati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she has not asked permission, but she perceives that she has, and she sits down on a seat, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Āpucchite anāpucchitasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If she has asked permission, but she does not perceive that she has, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Āpucchite vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.

If she has asked permission, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Āpucchite āpucchitasaññā, anāpatti.

If she has asked permission, and she perceives that she has, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

āpucchā āsane nisīdati,

if she sits down on the seat after asking permission;

gilānāya,

if she is sick;

āpadāsu,

if there is an emergency;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Ekādasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The eleventh training rule is finished.