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Bi Ss 63 min read

6. Encouraging a nun to receive food from a man with lust

Kiṁteavassutovāanavassutovā

A nun who encourages another nun to receive food from a lustful man 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

0.46. DutiyabhojanapaṭiggahaṇasikkhāpadaEncouraging a nun to receive food from a man with lust

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 sundarīnandā bhikkhunī abhirūpā hoti dassanīyā pāsādikā.At that time there was a beautiful nun called Sundarīnandā.1.3Manussā bhattagge sundarīnandaṁ bhikkhuniṁ passitvā avassutā sundarīnandāya bhikkhuniyā aggamaggāni bhojanāni denti.When people saw her in the dining hall, they were affected by lust, and they gave her the best food.1.4Sundarīnandā bhikkhunī kukkuccāyantī na paṭiggaṇhāti.Being afraid of wrongdoing, Sundarīnandā did not receive it.1.5Anantarikā bhikkhunī sundarīnandaṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca—The nun next to her said,1.6“kissa tvaṁ, ayye, na paṭiggaṇhāsī”ti?“Why didn’t you receive it, venerable?”

1.7“Avassutā, ayye”ti.“Because they have lust.”

1.8“Tvaṁ pana, ayye, avassutā”ti?“But do you have lust?”

1.9“Nāhaṁ, ayye, avassutā”ti.“No.”

1.10“Kiṁ te, ayye, eso purisapuggalo karissati avassuto vā anavassuto vā, yato tvaṁ anavassutā.“What can this man do to you, whether he has lust or not, when you’re without it?1.11Iṅgha, ayye, yaṁ te eso purisapuggalo deti khādanīyaṁ vā bhojanīyaṁ vā taṁ tvaṁ sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khāda vā, bhuñja vā”ti.Go on, venerable, receive it with your own hands, and eat whatever fresh or cooked food he gives you.”

1.12Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,1.13“kathañhi nāma bhikkhunī evaṁ vakkhati—“How could a nun say,1.14‘kiṁ te, ayye, eso purisapuggalo karissati avassuto vā anavassuto vā, yato tvaṁ anavassutā.‘What can this man do to you, whether he has lust or not, when you’re without it?1.15Iṅgha, ayye, yaṁ te eso purisapuggalo deti khādanīyaṁ vā bhojanīyaṁ vā taṁ tvaṁ sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khāda vā bhuñja vā’”ti …pe…Go on, venerable, receive it with your own hands, and eat whatever fresh or cooked food he gives you’?” …1.16“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī evaṁ vadeti—“Is it true, monks, that a nun said this?”1.17‘kiṁ te, ayye, eso purisapuggalo karissati avassuto vā anavassuto vā yato tvaṁ anavassutā.1.18Iṅgha, ayye, yaṁ te eso purisapuggalo deti khādanīyaṁ vā bhojanīyaṁ vā taṁ tvaṁ sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khāda vā bhuñja vā’”ti?

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

1.20Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked her …1.21kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhunī evaṁ vakkhati—“How could a nun say this?”1.22‘kiṁ te, ayye, eso purisapuggalo karissati avassuto vā anavassuto vā yato tvaṁ anavassutā;1.23iṅgha, ayye, yaṁ te eso purisapuggalo deti khādanīyaṁ vā bhojanīyaṁ vā taṁ tvaṁ sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khāda vā bhuñja vā’ti.1.24Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …” …1.25evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

1.26.0Final ruling

1.26.1“Yā pana bhikkhunī evaṁ vadeyya— ‘kiṁ te, ayye, eso purisapuggalo karissati avassuto vā anavassuto vā, yato tvaṁ anavassutā. Iṅgha, ayye, yaṁ te eso purisapuggalo deti khādanīyaṁ vā bhojanīyaṁ vā taṁ tvaṁ sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khāda vā bhuñja vā’ti, ayampi bhikkhunī paṭhamāpattikaṁ dhammaṁ āpannā nissāraṇīyaṁ saṅghādisesan”ti.‘If a nun says, “Venerable, what can this man do to you, whether he has lust or not, if you’re without? Go on, venerable, receive it with your own hands and then eat whatever fresh or cooked food he gives you,” 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.
2.1.5Evaṁ vadeyyāti—Says:
2.1.6“kiṁ te, ayye, eso purisapuggalo karissati avassuto vā anavassuto vā, yato tvaṁ anavassutā. Iṅgha, ayye, yaṁ te eso purisapuggalo deti khādanīyaṁ vā bhojanīyaṁ vā taṁ tvaṁ sahatthā paṭiggahetvā khāda vā bhuñja vā”ti uyyojeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.if she urges her on, saying, “Venerable, what can this man do to you, whether he has lust or not, if you’re without? Go on, venerable, receive it with your own hands and then eat whatever fresh or cooked food he gives you,” then she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.1.7Tassā vacanena “khādissāmi bhuñjissāmī”ti paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If, because of her statement, the other nun receives fresh or cooked food with the intention of eating it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.1.8PTS 4.235Ajjhohāre ajjhohāre āpatti thullaccayassa.For every mouthful swallowed, she commits a serious offense.2.1.9Bhojanapariyosāne āpatti saṅghādisesassa.At the end of the meal, she commits an offense entailing suspension.
2.1.10AyampītiThat too:
2.1.11purimāyo upādāya vuccati.this is said with reference to the preceding offenses.
2.1.12PaṭhamāpattikantiAn immediate offense:
2.1.13saha vatthujjhācārā āpajjati asamanubhāsanāya.there is an offense as soon as the misconduct is committed, and no pressing is required.
2.1.14NissāraṇīyantiEntailing sending away:
2.1.15saṅghamhā nissārīyati.she is sent away from the Sangha.
2.1.16SaṅghādisesotiSuspension:
2.1.17…pe… tenapi vuccati saṅghādisesoti.… Therefore, too, it is called an offense entailing suspension.

2.2.0Permutations

2.2.1Udakadantaponaṁ “paṭiggaṇhā”ti uyyojeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she urges her on to receive water or a tooth cleaner, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.2Tassā vacanena “khādissāmi bhuñjissāmī”ti paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If, because of her statement, the other nun receives the food with the intention of eating it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

2.2.3Ekatoavassute yakkhassa vā petassa vā paṇḍakassa vā tiracchānagatamanussaviggahassa vā hatthato khādanīyaṁ vā bhojanīyaṁ vā “khāda vā bhuñja vā”ti uyyojeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If, when only the male being has lust, she urges her on to eat fresh or cooked food received directly from a male spirit, a male ghost, a <i lang='pi' translate='no'>paṇḍaka</i>, or a male animal in human form, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.12.2.4Tassā vacanena “khādissāmi bhuñjissāmī”ti paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If, because of her statement, the other nun receives the food with the intention of eating it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.5Ajjhohāre ajjhohāre āpatti dukkaṭassa.For every mouthful swallowed, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.6Bhojanapariyosāne āpatti thullaccayassa.At the end of the meal, she commits a serious offense.2.2.7Udakadantaponaṁ paṭiggaṇhāti uyyojeti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If she urges her on to receive water or a tooth cleaner, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.2.8Tassā vacanena “khādissāmi bhuñjissāmī”ti paṭiggaṇhāti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If, because of her statement, the other nun receives the food with the intention of eating it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

2.3.0Non-offenses

2.3.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.3.2“anavassuto”ti jānantī uyyojeti,if she urges her on, knowing that he has no lust; 2.3.3“kupitā na paṭiggaṇhātī”ti uyyojeti,if she urges her on, thinking that she is not receiving because of anger; 2.3.4“kulānuddayatāya na paṭiggaṇhātī”ti uyyojeti,if she urges her on, thinking that she is not receiving because of compassion for the family; 2.3.5ummattikāya,if she is insane; 2.3.6ādikammikāyāti.if she is the first offender.

2.3.7Chaṭṭhasaṅghādisesasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.The sixth offense entailing suspension is finished.2

Translator’s notes

  1. As with Bi Pj 5:2.2.15.1 and Bi Ss 5:2.2.2, the Pali just says, “One of them has lust”, ekatoavassute, without specifying who. Yet as with Bi Ss 5, the non-offense clause specifically says that there is no offense if the nun knows that the man or the male being does not have lust, and so the state of mind of the nun does not seem to be an issue. It follows that “one of them has lust” must refer to the male being. This understanding is supported by Sp 2.701: Ekato avassuteti ettha “bhikkhuniyā avassutabhāvo daṭṭhabbo”ti mahāpaccariyaṁ vuttaṁ. Mahāaṭṭhakathāyaṁ panetaṁ na vuttaṁ, taṁ pāḷiyā sameti, “‘One of them has lust’: In regard to this it is said in the Mahāpaccarī, ‘There being lust in the nun is to be understood.’ But this is not said in the Mahāaṭṭhakathā, and this agrees with the Canonical text.”

    ↩ pli-tv-bi-vb-ss6:2.2.3

  2. The nuns’ offenses entailing suspension 7, 8, and 9 are identical to Bu Ss 5:2.2.13.1, Bu Ss 8:1.9.32.1, and Bu Ss 9:1.2.14.1 respectively.

    ↩ pli-tv-bi-vb-ss6:2.3.7