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95. Asking a question without permission

Pañhāpucchana

A nun who asks a monk a question without obtaining leave 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

0.595. PañhāpucchanasikkhāpadaAsking a question 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 anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchanti.the nuns asked questions of a monk who had not given them permission.1.3Bhikkhū ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The monks complained and criticized them,1.4“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchissantī”ti …pe…“How can nuns ask questions of a monk who hasn’t given them permission?” …1.5“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchantī”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 anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ pucchissanti.“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 anokāsakataṁ bhikkhuṁ pañhaṁ puccheyya, pācittiyan”ti.‘If a nun asks a question of a monk who has not given her 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.
2.1.5AnokāsakatantiWho has not given her permission:
2.1.6anāpucchā.without asking permission.
2.1.7BhikkhuntiA monk:
2.1.8upasampannaṁ.one who is fully ordained.
2.1.9Pañhaṁ puccheyyātiAsks a question:
2.1.10suttante okāsaṁ kārāpetvā vinayaṁ vā abhidhammaṁ vā pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa.if she gets permission to ask about the discourses, but she asks about the Monastic Law or philosophy, she commits an offense entailing confession.2.1.11Vinaye okāsaṁ kārāpetvā suttantaṁ vā abhidhammaṁ vā pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If she gets permission to ask about the Monastic Law, but she asks about the discourses or philosophy, she commits an offense entailing confession.2.1.12Abhidhamme okāsaṁ kārāpetvā suttantaṁ vā vinayaṁ vā pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If she gets permission to ask about philosophy, but she asks about the discourses or the Monastic Law, she commits an offense entailing confession.

2.2.0Permutations

2.2.1Anāpucchite anāpucchitasaññā pañhaṁ pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If she has not asked permission, and she does not perceive that she has, and she asks a question, she commits an offense entailing confession.2.2.2Anāpucchite vematikā pañhaṁ pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If she has not asked permission, but she is unsure of it, and she asks a question, she commits an offense entailing confession.2.2.3Anāpucchite āpucchitasaññā pañhaṁ pucchati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If she has not asked permission, but she perceives that she has, and she asks a question, 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:2.3.2okāsaṁ kārāpetvā pucchati,if she asks after getting permission; 2.3.3anodissa okāsaṁ kārāpetvā yattha katthaci pucchati,if she gets permission, but not in regard to a specific subject, and she then asks about any subject; 2.3.4ummattikāya,if she is insane; 2.3.5ādikammikāyāti.if she is the first offender.

2.3.6Dvādasamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.The twelfth training rule is finished.