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94. Sitting in front without permission

Anāpucchā

A nun who sits down in front of a monk without asking permission 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
  • 0.4ChattupāhanavaggaThe subchapter on sunshades and sandals

0.594. AnāpucchāsikkhāpadaSitting in front without permission

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 bhikkhussa purato anāpucchā āsane nisīdanti.nuns sat down on seats in front of a monk without asking permission.1.3Bhikkhū ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The monks complained and criticized them,1.4“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?” …1.5“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo bhikkhussa purato anāpucchā āsane nisīdantī”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 bhikkhussa purato anāpucchā āsane nisīdissanti.“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 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.’”

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.
2.1.5Bhikkhussa puratotiIn front of a monk:
2.1.6upasampannassa purato.in front of one who is fully ordained.
2.1.7AnāpucchātiWithout asking permission:
2.1.8anapaloketvā.without getting permission.
2.1.9Āsane nisīdeyyātiSits down on a seat:
2.1.10antamaso chamāyapi nisīdati, āpatti pācittiyassa.even if she sits down on the ground, she commits an offense entailing confession.

2.2.0Permutations

2.2.1PTS 4.344Anāpucchite 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.2.2.2Anāpucchite 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.2.2.3Anāpucchite 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.

2.2.4Āpucchite anāpucchitasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she has asked permission, but she does not perceive that she has, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.5Āpucchite vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she has asked permission, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.6Āpucchite āpucchitasaññā, anāpatti.If she has asked permission, and she perceives that she has, there is no offense.

2.3.0Non-offenses

2.3.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.3.2āpucchā āsane nisīdati,if she sits down on the seat after asking permission; 2.3.3gilānāya,if she is sick; 2.3.4āpadāsu,if there is an emergency; 2.3.5ummattikāya,if she is insane; 2.3.6ādikammikāyāti.if she is the first offender.

2.3.7Ekādasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.The eleventh training rule is finished.