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Bi Pc 441 min read

44. Serving householders

Gihiveyyāvacca

A nun who serves a lay person 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

0.544. GihiveyyāvaccasikkhāpadaServing householders

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 gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karonti.the nuns were providing services for householders.1.3Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,1.4“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karissantī”ti …pe…“How can nuns provide services for householders?” …1.5“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karontī”ti?“Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?”

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

1.7Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …1.8kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karissanti.“How can nuns do this?1.9Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.10evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

1.11.0Final ruling

1.11.1“Yā pana bhikkhunī gihiveyyāvaccaṁ kareyya, pācittiyan”ti.‘If a nun provides services for a householder, 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.
2.1.5Gihiveyyāvaccaṁ nāmaServices for a householder:
2.1.6PTS 4.301agārikassa yāguṁ vā bhattaṁ vā khādanīyaṁ vā pacati, sāṭakaṁ vā veṭhanaṁ vā dhovati, āpatti pācittiyassa.if she cooks congee, a meal, or fresh food for a householder, or she washes a wrap garment or a turban for them, she commits an offense entailing confession.

2.2.0Non-offenses

2.2.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.2.2yāgupāne,if it is a congee drink; 2.2.3saṅghabhatte,if it is a meal for the Sangha; 2.2.4cetiyapūjāya,if it is to venerate a shrine; 2.2.5attano veyyāvaccakarassa yāguṁ vā bhattaṁ vā khādanīyaṁ vā pacati, sāṭakaṁ vā veṭhanaṁ vā dhovati,if she cooks congee, a meal, or fresh food for her own service provider, or she washes a wrap garment or a turban for them; 2.2.6ummattikāya,if she is insane; 2.2.7ādikammikāyāti.if she is the first offender.

2.2.8Catutthasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.The fourth training rule is finished.