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Bi Pc 421 min read

42. Using luxurious furniture

Āsandiparibhuñjana

A nun who uses a large or luxurious seat must confess the offense.

Translated by Bhikkhu Brahmali · Pāli: Mahāsaṅgīti Tipiṭaka · Public domain (CC0) via SuttaCentral

  • 0.1Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
  • 0.2BhikkhunivibhaṅgaThe Nuns’ Analysis
  • 0.3PācittiyakaṇḍaThe chapter on offenses entailing confession
  • 0.4CittāgāravaggaThe subchapter on galleries

0.542. ĀsandiparibhuñjanasikkhāpadaUsing luxurious furniture

1.0Origin story

1.1Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,1.2Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjanti.the nuns were using high and luxurious couches.1.3Manussā vihāracārikaṁ āhiṇḍantā passitvā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—When people walking about the dwellings saw this, they complained and criticized them,1.4“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjissanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”ti.“How can nuns use high and luxurious couches? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!”

1.5Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ.The nuns heard the complaints of those people,1.6Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,1.7“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjissantī”ti …pe…“How can nuns do this?” …1.8“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjantī”ti?“Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?”

1.9“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.“It’s true, sir.”

1.10Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …1.11kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo āsandimpi pallaṅkampi paribhuñjissanti.“How can nuns do this?1.12Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.13evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

1.14.0Final ruling

1.14.1“Yā pana bhikkhunī āsandiṁ vā pallaṅkaṁ vā paribhuñjeyya, pācittiyan”ti.‘If a nun uses a high or luxurious couch, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

2.1.0Definitions

2.1.1Yā panātiA:
2.1.2yā yādisā …pe…whoever …
2.1.3bhikkhunītiNun:
2.1.4…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.
2.1.5Āsandī nāmaA high couch:
2.1.6atikkantappamāṇā vuccati.one that is oversize is what is meant.
2.1.7Pallaṅko nāmaA luxurious couch:
2.1.8āharimehi vāḷehi kato hoti.one decorated with images of predatory animals.
2.1.9ParibhuñjeyyātiUses:
2.1.10tasmiṁ abhinisīdati vā abhinipajjati vā, āpatti pācittiyassa.if she sits down or lies down on it, she commits an offense entailing confession.

2.2.0Non-offenses

2.2.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.2.2āsandiyā pāde chinditvā paribhuñjati,if she uses a high couch after cutting off the legs; 2.2.3pallaṅkassa vāḷe bhinditvā paribhuñjati,if she uses a luxurious couch after removing the decorations with images of predatory animals; 2.2.4ummattikāya,if she is insane; 2.2.5ādikammikāyāti.if she is the first offender.

2.2.6Dutiyasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.The second training rule is finished.