Saṁkakṣikā

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

96. Asaṅkaccikasikkhāpada

Not wearing a chest wrap

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 aññatarā bhikkhunī asaṅkaccikā gāmaṁ piṇḍāya pāvisi.

a nun had gone to the village for alms without wearing her chest wrap.

Tassā rathikāya vātamaṇḍalikā saṅghāṭiyo ukkhipiṁsu.

While she was walking along a street, a whirlwind lifted up her upper robes.

Manussā ukkuṭṭhiṁ akaṁsu—

People shouted out,

“sundarā ayyāya thanudarā”ti.

“She has beautiful breasts and belly!”

Sā bhikkhunī tehi manussehi uppaṇḍiyamānā maṅku ahosi.

Because she was teased by those people, she felt humiliated.

Atha kho sā bhikkhunī upassayaṁ gantvā bhikkhunīnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesi.

After returning to the nunnery, she told the nuns what had happened.

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

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,

“kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī asaṅkaccikā gāmaṁ pavisissatī”ti …pe…

“How could a nun enter an inhabited area without wearing her chest wrap?” …

“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī asaṅkaccikā gāmaṁ pāvisī”ti?

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

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

“It’s true, sir.”

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…

The Buddha rebuked her …

kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī asaṅkaccikā gāmaṁ pavisissati.

“How could a nun 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 asaṅkaccikā gāmaṁ paviseyya, pācittiyan”ti.

‘If a nun enters an inhabited area without wearing her chest wrap, 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.

Asaṅkaccikāti

Without wearing her chest wrap:

vinā saṅkaccikaṁ.

not wearing her chest wrap.

Saṅkaccikaṁ nāma

Chest wrap:

adhakkhakaṁ ubbhanābhi, tassa paṭicchādanatthāya.

it is for the purpose of concealing the body below the collar bone and above the navel.

Gāmaṁ paviseyyāti

Enters an inhabited area:

parikkhittassa gāmassa parikkhepaṁ atikkāmentiyā āpatti pācittiyassa.

if she crosses the boundary of an enclosed inhabited area, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Aparikkhittassa gāmassa upacāraṁ okkamantiyā āpatti pācittiyassa.

If she enters the vicinity of an unenclosed inhabited area, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Non-offenses

Anāpatti—

There is no offense:

acchinnacīvarikāya,

if her robe is stolen;

naṭṭhacīvarikāya,

if her robe is lost;

gilānāya,

if she is sick;

assatiyā,

if she is not mindful;

ajānantiyā,

if she does not know;

āpadāsu,

if there is an emergency;

ummattikāya,

if she is insane;

ādikammikāyāti.

if she is the first offender.

Terasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The thirteenth training rule is finished.

Chattupāhanavaggo navamo.

The ninth subchapter on sunshades and sandals is finished.

Dhammikavagga

Nandasikkhāpada

Uddiṭṭhā kho, ayyāyo, chasaṭṭhisatā pācittiyā dhammā.

“Venerables, the one hundred and sixty-six rules on confession have been recited.

Tatthāyyāyo pucchāmi—

In regard to this I ask you,

“kaccittha parisuddhā”?

‘Are you pure in this?’

Dutiyampi pucchāmi—

A second time I ask,

“kaccittha parisuddhā”?

‘Are you pure in this?’

Tatiyampi pucchāmi—

A third time I ask,

“kaccittha parisuddhā”?

‘Are you pure in this?’

Parisuddhetthāyyāyo, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmīti.

You are pure in this and therefore silent. I will remember it thus.”

Khuddakaṁ samattaṁ.

The section on minor rules has been completed.

Bhikkhunivibhaṅge pācittiyakaṇḍaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.

The chapter on offenses entailing confession in the Nuns’ Analysis is finished.

(…)