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Bi Ss 44 min read

4. Readmitting an ejected nun

Ukkhittakaosāraṇa

A nun who, without permission, reinstates another nun who has been legitimately ejected is to be suspended.

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

  • 0.1Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
  • 0.2BhikkhunivibhaṅgaThe Nuns’ Analysis
  • 0.3SaṅghādisesakaṇḍaThe chapter on offenses entailing suspension

0.44. UkkhittakaosāraṇasikkhāpadaReadmitting an ejected nun

1.0Origin story

1.1Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.1.2Tena kho pana samayena caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī bhaṇḍanakārikā hoti kalahakārikā vivādakārikā bhassakārikā saṅghe adhikaraṇakārikā.At that time the nun Caṇḍakāḷī was quarrelsome and argumentative, and she created legal issues in the Sangha.1.3Thullanandā bhikkhunī tassā kamme karīyamāne paṭikkosati.But when a legal procedure was being done against her, the nun Thullanandā objected.

1.4Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī gāmakaṁ agamāsi kenacideva karaṇīyena.Soon afterwards Thullanandā went to a village on some business.1.5PTS 4.231Atha kho bhikkhunisaṅgho—The Sangha of nuns1.6“thullanandā bhikkhunī pakkantā”ti, caṇḍakāḷiṁ bhikkhuniṁ āpattiyā adassane ukkhipi.took the opportunity to eject Caṇḍakāḷī for not recognizing an offense.1.7Thullanandā bhikkhunī gāmake taṁ karaṇīyaṁ tīretvā punadeva sāvatthiṁ paccāgacchi.When Thullanandā had finished her business in that village, she returned to Sāvatthī.1.8Caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā āgacchantiyā neva āsanaṁ paññapesi na pādodakaṁ pādapīṭhaṁ pādakaṭhalikaṁ upanikkhipi na paccuggantvā pattacīvaraṁ paṭiggahesi na pānīyena āpucchi.On her return, Caṇḍakāḷī neither prepared a seat for her, nor set out a foot stool, a foot scraper, or water for washing the feet; and she did not go out to meet her to receive her bowl and robe, nor ask whether she wanted water to drink.1.9Thullanandā bhikkhunī caṇḍakāḷiṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca—Thullanandā asked her1.10“kissa tvaṁ, ayye, mayi āgacchantiyā neva āsanaṁ paññapesi na pādodakaṁ pādapīṭhaṁ pādakaṭhalikaṁ upanikkhipi na paccuggantvā pattacīvaraṁ paṭiggahesi na pānīyena āpucchī”ti?why she was acting like this.1.11“Evañhetaṁ, ayye, hoti yathā taṁ anāthāyā”ti.She replied, “That’s how it is, venerable, when you don’t have a protector.”

1.12“Kissa pana tvaṁ, ayye, anāthā”ti?“But how is it, venerable, that you don’t have a protector?”

1.13“Imā maṁ, ayye, bhikkhuniyo—“When the nuns knew1.14‘ayaṁ anāthā appaññātā, natthi imissā kāci paṭivattā’ti, āpattiyā adassane ukkhipiṁsū”ti.that no one would speak up for me because I am not esteemed by them and I didn’t have a protector, they ejected me for not recognizing an offense.”

1.15Thullanandā bhikkhunī—1.16“bālā etā abyattā etā, neva jānanti kammaṁ vā kammadosaṁ vā kammavipattiṁ vā kammasampattiṁ vā.“They are incompetent fools. They don’t know about legal procedures or their flaws, nor what makes them fail or succeed.1.17Mayaṁ kho jānāma kammampi kammadosampi kammavipattimpi kammasampattimpi.But we know all these things.1.18Mayaṁ kho akataṁ vā kammaṁ kāreyyāma kataṁ vā kammaṁ kopeyyāmā”ti, lahuṁ lahuṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ sannipātetvā caṇḍakāḷiṁ bhikkhuniṁ osāresi.We can get legal procedures done that haven’t been done, and we can get procedures that have been done overturned.” And she quickly gathered a sangha of nuns and readmitted the nun Caṇḍakāḷī.

1.19Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,1.20“kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā samaggena saṅghena ukkhittaṁ bhikkhuniṁ dhammena vinayena satthusāsanena anapaloketvā kārakasaṅghaṁ anaññāya gaṇassa chandaṁ osāressatī”ti …pe…“How could Venerable Thullanandā readmit a nun who had been ejected by a unanimous Sangha in accordance with the Teaching, the Monastic Law, and the Teacher’s instruction, without first getting permission from the Sangha that did the legal procedure and without the consent of the community?” …1.21“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī samaggena saṅghena ukkhittaṁ bhikkhuniṁ dhammena vinayena satthusāsanena anapaloketvā kārakasaṅghaṁ anaññāya gaṇassa chandaṁ osāretī”ti?“Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?”

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

1.23Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked her …1.24kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī samaggena saṅghena ukkhittaṁ bhikkhuniṁ dhammena vinayena satthusāsanena anapaloketvā kārakasaṅghaṁ anaññāya gaṇassa chandaṁ osāressati.“How could the nun Thullanandā readmit a nun who had been ejected by a unanimous Sangha in accordance with the Teaching, the Monastic Law, and the Teacher’s instruction, without first getting permission from the Sangha that did the legal procedure and without the consent of the community?1.25Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.26evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

1.27.0Final ruling

1.27.1“Yā pana bhikkhunī samaggena saṅghena ukkhittaṁ bhikkhuniṁ dhammena vinayena satthusāsanena anapaloketvā kārakasaṅghaṁ anaññāya gaṇassa chandaṁ osāreyya, ayampi bhikkhunī paṭhamāpattikaṁ dhammaṁ āpannā nissāraṇīyaṁ saṅghādisesan”ti.‘If a nun, without getting permission from the Sangha that did the legal procedure and without the consent of the community, readmits a nun who has been ejected by a unanimous Sangha in accordance with the Teaching and the Monastic Law and the Teacher’s instruction, then that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.’”

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.
2.1.5Samaggo nāma saṅghoA unanimous Sangha:
2.1.6samānasaṁvāsako samānasīmāyaṁ ṭhito.those belonging to the same Buddhist sect and staying within the same monastery zone.
2.1.7Ukkhittā nāmaWho has been ejected:
2.1.8āpattiyā adassane vā appaṭikamme vā appaṭinissagge vā ukkhittā.who has been ejected for not recognizing an offense, for not making amends, or for not giving up a bad view.
2.1.9PTS 4.232Dhammena vinayenātiIn accordance with the Teaching and the Monastic Law:
2.1.10yena dhammena yena vinayena.in accordance with that Teaching, in accordance with that Monastic Law.1
2.1.11SatthusāsanenātiIn accordance with the Teacher’s instruction:
2.1.12jinasāsanena buddhasāsanena.in accordance with the Victor’s instruction, in accordance with the Buddha’s instruction.
2.1.13Anapaloketvā kārakasaṅghantiWithout getting permission from the Sangha that did the legal procedure:
2.1.14kammakārakasaṅghaṁ anāpucchā.without having asked permission of the Sangha that did the legal procedure of ejection.
2.1.15Anaññāya gaṇassa chandantiWithout the consent of the community:
2.1.16gaṇassa chandaṁ ajānitvā.without being aware of any consent from the community.2.1.17“Osāressāmī”ti gaṇaṁ vā pariyesati, sīmaṁ vā sammannati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If, intending to readmit her, she searches for a group or establishes a monastery zone, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.1.18Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ, dvīhi kammavācāhi thullaccayā, kammavācāpariyosāne āpatti saṅghādisesassa.After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. After each of the first two announcements, she commits a serious offense. When the last announcement is finished, she commits an offense entailing suspension.2
2.1.19AyampītiThat too:
2.1.20purimāyo upādāya vuccati.this is said with reference to the preceding offenses.
2.1.21PaṭhamāpattikantiAn immediate offense:
2.1.22saha vatthujjhācārā āpajjati asamanubhāsanāya.there is an offense as soon as the misconduct is committed, and no pressing is required.
2.1.23NissāraṇīyantiEntailing sending away:
2.1.24saṅghamhā nissārīyati.she is sent away from the Sangha.
2.1.25SaṅghādisesotiSuspension:
2.1.26…pe… tenapi vuccati saṅghādisesoti.… Therefore, too, it is called an offense entailing suspension.

2.2.0Permutations

2.2.1Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññā osāreti, āpatti saṅghādisesassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, and she readmits her, she commits an offense entailing suspension.2.2.2Dhammakamme vematikā osāreti āpatti saṅghādisesassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she readmits her, she commits an offense entailing suspension.2.2.3Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññā osāreti, āpatti saṅghādisesassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she readmits her, she commits an offense entailing suspension.

2.2.4Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.5Adhammakamme vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.6Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

2.3.0Non-offenses

2.3.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.3.2kammakārakasaṅghaṁ apaloketvā osāreti,if she readmits her after getting permission from the Sangha that did the procedure; 2.3.3gaṇassa chandaṁ jānitvā osāreti,if she readmits her with the consent of the community; 2.3.4vatte vattantiṁ osāreti,if she readmits one who is behaving properly; 2.3.5asante kammakārakasaṅghe osāreti,if she readmits her when the Sangha that did the procedure is unavailable;3 2.3.6ummattikāya,if she is insane; 2.3.7ādikammikāyāti.if she is the first offender.

2.3.8Catutthasaṅghādisesasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.The fourth offense entailing suspension is finished.

Translator’s notes

  1. Sp 2.669: Dhammenāti bhūtena vatthunā. Vinayenāti codetvā sāretvā. Padabhājanaṁ panassa “yena dhammena yena vinayena ukkhitto suukkhitto hotī”ti imaṁadhippāyamattaṁ dassetuṁ vuttaṁ, “Dhammena: according to truth, according to the rule. Vinayena: having accused, having reminded. But the word analysis is spoken to show just this meaning: ‘Yena dhammena yena vinayena means ejected, properly ejected.’”

    ↩ pli-tv-bi-vb-ss4:2.1.10

  2. The Pali just says dukkaṭa, without specifying that it is an āpatti, “an offense”. Yet elsewhere, such as at Bu Ss 10:2.65, the dukkaṭa is annulled if you commit the full offense of saṅghādisesa. The implication is that in these contexts dukkaṭa should be read as āpatti dukkaṭassa, “an offense of wrong conduct”.

    ↩ pli-tv-bi-vb-ss4:2.1.18

  3. Asanta can mean “non-existent”, but in this kind of context it often means “unavailable”. See for instance Bu Pc 46:6.1.11, Bu Pc 85:5.1.7 and Bi Pc 51:4.3.3.

    ↩ pli-tv-bi-vb-ss4:2.3.5