True DhammaLibrary · Community
Bu Pc 2114 min read

21. Instructing nuns without approval

Ovāda

A monk who teaches the nuns without the Order’s agreement must confess the offense.

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

  • 0.1Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
  • 0.2MahāvibhaṅgaThe Great Analysis
  • 0.3PācittiyakaṇḍaThe chapter on offenses entailing confession
  • 0.4OvādavaggaThe subchapter on the instruction

0.521. OvādasikkhāpadaInstructing nuns without approval

1.0.1Origin story

1.0.2First substory

1.1PTS 4.50Tena 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 therā bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo ovadantā lābhino honti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.At that time the senior monks who were instructing the nuns received robe-cloth, almsfood, dwellings, and medicinal supplies.1.3Atha kho chabbaggiyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi—When the monks from the group of six found out about this,1.4“etarahi kho, āvuso, therā bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo ovadantā lābhino honti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.1.5Handāvuso, mayampi bhikkhuniyo ovadāmā”ti.they thought, “Well then, let’s instruct the nuns.”1.6Atha kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ—“amhepi, bhaginiyo, upasaṅkamatha; mayampi ovadissāmā”ti.They then went to the nuns and said, “Come to us, sisters, and we too will instruct you.”

1.7Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo yena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkamiṁsu;Soon afterwards those nuns went to the monks from the group of six,1.8upasaṅkamitvā chabbaggiye bhikkhū abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu.bowed, and sat down.1.9Atha kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunīnaṁ parittaññeva dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā divasaṁ tiracchānakathāya vītināmetvā uyyojesuṁ—“gacchatha, bhaginiyo”ti.But after giving just a short teaching, those monks spent the day on worldly talk. They then dismissed the nuns, saying, “Go, sisters.”

1.10Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhagavā etadavoca—“kacci, bhikkhuniyo, ovādo iddho ahosī”ti?The nuns went to the Buddha and bowed, and the Buddha said to them, “Nuns, I hope the instruction was effective?”

1.11“Kuto, bhante, ovādo iddho bhavissati.“Sir, how could the instruction be effective?1.12Ayyā chabbaggiyā parittaññeva dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā divasaṁ tiracchānakathāya vītināmetvā uyyojesun”ti.After giving just a short teaching, the monks from the group of six spent the day on worldly talk, and then dismissed us.”

1.13Atha kho bhagavā tā bhikkhuniyo dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi samādapesi samuttejesi sampahaṁsesi.The Buddha instructed, inspired, and gladdened those nuns with a teaching.1.14Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassitā samādapitā samuttejitā sampahaṁsitā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkamiṁsu.The nuns bowed, circumambulated the Buddha with their right sides toward him, and left.

1.15Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe bhikkhusaṅghaṁ sannipātāpetvā chabbaggiye bhikkhū paṭipucchi—Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks from the group of six:1.16“saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhunīnaṁ parittaññeva dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā divasaṁ tiracchānakathāya vītināmetvā uyyojethā”ti?“Is it true, monks, that you acted like this?”

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

1.18Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …1.19kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhunīnaṁ parittaññeva dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā divasaṁ tiracchānakathāya vītināmetvā uyyojessatha.“Foolish men, how could you act like this?1.20Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …”1.21vigarahitvā …pe…After rebuking them …1.22dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

1.23“anujānāmi, bhikkhave, bhikkhunovādakaṁ sammannituṁ.“Monks, you should appoint an instructor of the nuns.11.24Evañca pana, bhikkhave, sammannitabbo.And he should be appointed like this.1.25Paṭhamaṁ bhikkhu yācitabbo.First a monk should be asked1.26Yācitvā byattena bhikkhunā paṭibalena saṅgho ñāpetabbo—and then a competent and capable monk should inform the Sangha:

1.27‘Suṇātu me, bhante, saṅgho.‘Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.1.28Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ, saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuṁ bhikkhunovādakaṁ sammanneyya.If the Sangha is ready, it should appoint monk so-and-so as an instructor of the nuns.1.29Esā ñatti.This is the motion.

1.30Suṇātu me, bhante, saṅgho.Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.1.31Saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuṁ bhikkhunovādakaṁ sammannati.The Sangha appoints monk so-and-so as an instructor of the nuns.1.32Yassāyasmato khamati itthannāmassa bhikkhuno bhikkhunovādakassa sammuti, so tuṇhassa;Any monk who approves of appointing monk so-and-so as an instructor of the nuns should remain silent.1.33yassa nakkhamati, so bhāseyya.Any monk who doesn’t approve should speak up.

1.34Dutiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi …pe…For the second time, I speak on this matter. …1.35tatiyampi etamatthaṁ vadāmi—For the third time, I speak on this matter.1.36suṇātu me, bhante, saṅgho.Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.1.37Saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuṁ bhikkhunovādakaṁ sammannati.The Sangha appoints monk so-and-so as an instructor of the nuns.1.38Yassāyasmato khamati itthannāmassa bhikkhuno bhikkhunovādakassa sammuti, so tuṇhassa;Any monk who approves of appointing monk so-and-so as an instructor of the nuns should remain silent.1.39yassa nakkhamati, so bhāseyya.Any monk who doesn’t approve should speak up.

1.40Sammato saṅghena itthannāmo bhikkhu bhikkhunovādako.The Sangha has appointed monk so-and-so as an instructor of the nuns.1.41Khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmī’”ti.The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I will remember it thus.’”

1.42PTS 4.51Atha kho bhagavā chabbaggiye bhikkhū anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā dubbharatāya …pe…Then, after rebuking the monks from the group of six in many ways, the Buddha spoke in dispraise of being difficult to support …1.43evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

1.44.0Final ruling

1.44.1“Yo pana bhikkhu asammato bhikkhuniyo ovadeyya pācittiyan”ti.‘If a monk who has not been appointed instructs the nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

1.45Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.

2.0Second substory

2.1Tena kho pana samayena therā bhikkhū sammatā bhikkhuniyo ovadantā tatheva lābhino honti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.After being appointed to do so, the senior monks who instructed the nuns still received robe-cloth, almsfood, dwellings, and medicinal supplies.2.2Atha kho chabbaggiyānaṁ bhikkhūnaṁ etadahosi—When they found out about this, the monks from the group of six said,2.3“etarahi kho, āvuso, therā bhikkhū sammatā bhikkhuniyo ovadantā tatheva lābhino honti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ.2.4Handāvuso, mayampi nissīmaṁ gantvā aññamaññaṁ bhikkhunovādakaṁ sammannitvā bhikkhuniyo ovadāmā”ti.“Well then, let’s go outside the monastery zone, appoint each other as instructors of the nuns, and then instruct them.”2.5Atha kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhū nissīmaṁ gantvā aññamaññaṁ bhikkhunovādakaṁ sammannitvā bhikkhuniyo upasaṅkamitvā etadavocuṁ—“mayampi, bhaginiyo, sammatā.After doing just that, they again went to the nuns and said, “Sisters, we too have been appointed.2.6Amhepi upasaṅkamatha. Mayampi ovadissāmā”ti.Come to us, and we will instruct you.”

2.7Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo yena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū tenupasaṅkamiṁsu; upasaṅkamitvā chabbaggiye bhikkhū abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdiṁsu.Once again the nuns went to the monks from the group of six and everything unfolded as before.2.8Atha kho chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunīnaṁ parittaññeva dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā divasaṁ tiracchānakathāya vītināmetvā uyyojesuṁ—2.9“gacchatha, bhaginiyo”ti.2.10Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkamiṁsu;2.11upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhaṁsu.2.12Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhagavā etadavoca—2.13“kacci, bhikkhuniyo, ovādo iddho ahosī”ti?2.14“Kuto, bhante, ovādo iddho bhavissati.2.15Ayyā chabbaggiyā parittaññeva dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā divasaṁ tiracchānakathāya vītināmetvā uyyojesun”ti.

2.16Atha kho bhagavā tā bhikkhuniyo dhammiyā kathāya sandassesi …pe…2.17atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhagavatā dhammiyā kathāya sandassitā samādapitā samuttejitā sampahaṁsitā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkamiṁsu.2.18Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe bhikkhusaṅghaṁ sannipātāpetvā chabbaggiye bhikkhū paṭipucchi—The Buddha then had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks from the group of six:2.19“saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhunīnaṁ parittaññeva dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā divasaṁ tiracchānakathāya vītināmetvā uyyojethā”ti?“Is it true, monks, that you acted like this?”

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

2.21Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …2.22kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhunīnaṁ parittaññeva dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā divasaṁ tiracchānakathāya vītināmetvā uyyojessatha.“Foolish men, how could you act like this?2.23Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …”2.24vigarahitvā …pe…After rebuking them …2.25dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

2.26“anujānāmi, bhikkhave, aṭṭhahaṅgehi samannāgataṁ bhikkhuṁ bhikkhunovādakaṁ sammannituṁ.“Monks, you may appoint a monk who possesses eight qualities as an instructor of the nuns:2

  1. 2.27Sīlavā hoti, pātimokkhasaṁvarasaṁvuto viharati ācāragocarasampanno aṇumattesu vajjesu bhayadassāvī, samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu;He is virtuous and restrained by the Monastic Code. His conduct is good, he associates with the right people, and he sees danger in minor faults. He undertakes and trains in the training rules.
  2. 2.28bahussuto hoti sutadharo sutasannicayo, ye te dhammā ādikalyāṇā majjhekalyāṇā pariyosānakalyāṇā sātthaṁ sabyañjanaṁ kevalaparipuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ abhivadanti tathārūpāssa dhammā bahussutā honti dhātā vacasā paricitā manasā anupekkhitā diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā;He has learned much, and he retains and accumulates what he has learned. Those teachings that are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, that have a true goal and are well articulated, and that set out the perfectly complete and pure spiritual life—he has learned many such teachings, retained them in mind, recited them verbally, mentally investigated them, and penetrated them well by view.
  3. 2.29ubhayāni kho panassa pātimokkhāni vitthārena svāgatāni honti suvibhattāni suppavattīni suvinicchitāni suttaso anubyañjanaso;He has properly learned both Monastic Codes in detail. He has analyzed them well, thoroughly mastered them, and investigated them well, both in terms of the rules and their detailed exposition.
  4. 2.30kalyāṇavāco hoti kalyāṇavākkaraṇo;He is well-spoken and has a good voice.
  5. 2.31yebhuyyena bhikkhunīnaṁ piyo hoti manāpo;He is generally liked by and pleasing to the nuns.
  6. 2.32paṭibalo hoti bhikkhuniyo ovadituṁ;He is capable of instructing the nuns.
  7. 2.33na kho panetaṁ bhagavantaṁ uddissa pabbajitāya kāsāyavatthavasanāya garudhammaṁ ajjhāpannapubbo hoti;He has never committed a heavy offense against a Buddhist nun.
  8. 2.34vīsativasso vā hoti atirekavīsativasso vā—He has been fully ordained for at least twenty years.

2.35anujānāmi, bhikkhave, imehi aṭṭhahaṅgehi samannāgataṁ bhikkhuṁ bhikkhunovādakaṁ sammannitun”ti.Monks, you may appoint a monk who possesses these eight qualities as an instructor of the nuns.”

3.1.0Definitions

3.1.1PTS 4.52Yo panātiA:
3.1.2yo yādiso …pe…whoever …
3.1.3bhikkhūtiMonk:
3.1.4…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.
3.1.5Asammato nāmaWho has not been appointed:
3.1.6ñatticatutthena kammena asammato.who has not been appointed through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements.
3.1.7Bhikkhuniyo nāmaThe nuns:
3.1.8ubhatosaṅghe upasampannā.they have been given the full ordination by both Sanghas.
3.1.9OvadeyyātiInstructs:

3.1.10aṭṭhahi garudhammehi ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.if he instructs in the eight important principles, he commits an offense entailing confession.3.1.11Aññena dhammena ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he instructs in any other teaching, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.1.12Ekatoupasampannaṁ ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he instructs a nun who is fully ordained only on one side, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

3.1.13Tena sammatena bhikkhunā pariveṇaṁ sammajjitvā pānīyaṁ paribhojanīyaṁ upaṭṭhāpetvā āsanaṁ paññapetvā dutiyaṁ gahetvā nisīditabbaṁ.The monk who has been appointed should sweep the yard, set out water for drinking and water for washing, prepare a seat, get hold of a companion, and then sit down.33.1.14Bhikkhunīhi tattha gantvā taṁ bhikkhuṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīditabbaṁ.The nuns should go there, bow down to the monk, and sit down.3.1.15Tena bhikkhunā pucchitabbā—The monk should then ask them,3.1.16“samaggāttha, bhaginiyo”ti?“Are you all here, sisters?”4

3.1.17Sace “samaggāmhāyyā”ti bhaṇanti, “vattanti, bhaginiyo, aṭṭha garudhammā”ti?If they say, “We’re all here, venerable,” he should say, “Are you keeping the eight important principles?”

3.1.18Sace “vattantāyyā”ti bhaṇanti, “eso, bhaginiyo, ovādo”ti niyyādetabbo.If they say, “We are,” he should say, “This is the instruction.”5

3.1.19Sace “na vattantāyyā”ti bhaṇanti, osāretabbā.If they say, “We’re not,” he should recite the important principles:6

  1. 3.1.20“Vassasatūpasampannāya bhikkhuniyā tadahupasampannassa bhikkhuno abhivādanaṁ paccuṭṭhānaṁ añjalikammaṁ sāmīcikammaṁ kātabbaṁ;“A nun who has been fully ordained for a hundred years should bow down to a monk who was given the full ordination on that very day, and she should stand up for him, raise her joined palms to him, and do acts of respect toward him.73.1.21ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garukatvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.This principle is to be honored and respected all one’s life, and is not to be breached.
  2. 3.1.22Na bhikkhuniyā abhikkhuke āvāse vassaṁ vasitabbaṁ;A nun shouldn’t spend the rainy-season residence in a monastery without monks.83.1.23ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garukatvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.This principle too is to be honored and respected all one’s life, and is not to be breached.
  3. 3.1.24Anvaddhamāsaṁ bhikkhuniyā bhikkhusaṅghato dve dhammā paccāsīsitabbāEvery half-month a nun should seek two things from the Sangha of monks: 3.1.25uposathapucchakañca ovādūpasaṅkamanañca,asking it about the observance day and going to it for the instruction. 3.1.26ayampi dhammo …pe…This principle too is to be honored and respected all one’s life, and is not to be breached.
  4. 3.1.27vassaṁ vuṭṭhāya bhikkhuniyā ubhatosaṅghe tīhi ṭhānehi pavāretabbaṁA nun who has completed the rainy-season residence should invite correction from both Sanghas in regard to three things: 3.1.28diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā;what has been seen, heard, or suspected.3.1.29ayampi dhammo …pe…This principle too is to be honored and respected all one’s life, and is not to be breached.
  5. 3.1.30garudhammaṁ ajjhāpannāya bhikkhuniyā ubhatosaṅghe pakkhamānattaṁ caritabbaṁ;A nun who has committed a heavy offense must undertake a trial period for a half-month toward both Sanghas.93.1.31ayampi dhammo …pe…This principle too is to be honored and respected all one’s life, and is not to be breached.
  6. 3.1.32dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya sikkhamānāya ubhatosaṅghe upasampadā pariyesitabbā;A trainee nun who has trained for two years in the six rules may seek for full ordination in both Sanghas.3.1.33ayampi dhammo …pe…This principle too is to be honored and respected all one’s life, and is not to be breached.
  7. 3.1.34na bhikkhuniyā kenaci pariyāyena bhikkhu akkositabbo paribhāsitabbo;A nun may not in any way abuse or revile a monk.3.1.35ayampi dhammo …pe…This principle too is to be honored and respected all one’s life, and is not to be breached.
  8. 3.1.36ajjatagge ovaṭo bhikkhunīnaṁ bhikkhūsu vacanapatho, anovaṭo bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīsu vacanapatho;From today onwards, nuns may not correct monks, but monks may correct nuns.103.1.37ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garukatvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo”ti.This principle too is to be honored and respected all one’s life, and is not to be breached.”

3.1.38Sace “samaggāmhāyyā”ti bhaṇantaṁ aññaṁ dhammaṁ bhaṇati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If they say, “We’re all here, venerable,” and he instructs them with another teaching, then he commits an offense of wrong conduct.113.1.39Sace “vaggāmhāyyā”ti bhaṇantaṁ aṭṭha garudhamme bhaṇati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If they say, “We’re not all here, venerable,” and he instructs them in the eight important principles, then he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.1.40Ovādaṁ aniyyādetvā aññaṁ dhammaṁ bhaṇati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If he does not give the instruction, but he gives them another teaching, then he commits an offense of wrong conduct.12

3.2.0Permutations

3.2.1PTS 4.53Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññī vaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure and he perceives it as such, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete and he perceives it as such, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.133.2.2Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññī vaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vematiko ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure and he perceives it as such, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete but he is unsure of it, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.3.2.3Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññī vaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ samaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure and he perceives it as such, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete but he perceives it as complete, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.

3.2.4Adhammakamme vematiko vaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure but he is unsure of it, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete and he perceives it as such, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.3.2.5Adhammakamme vematiko vaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vematiko ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure but he is unsure of it, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete but he is unsure of it, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.3.2.6Adhammakamme vematiko vaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ samaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure but he is unsure of it, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete but he perceives it as complete, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.

3.2.7Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññī vaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure but he perceives it as legitimate, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete and he perceives it as such, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.3.2.8Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññī vaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vematiko ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure but he perceives it as legitimate, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete but he is unsure of it, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.3.2.9Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññī vaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ samaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure but he perceives it as legitimate, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete but he perceives it as complete, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.

3.2.10Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññī samaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure and he perceives it as such, and the Sangha of nuns is complete but he perceives it as incomplete, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.3.2.11Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññī samaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vematiko ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure and he perceives it as such, and the Sangha of nuns is complete but he is unsure of it, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.3.2.12Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññī samaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ samaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure and he perceives it as such, and the Sangha of nuns is complete and he perceives it as such, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.

3.2.13Adhammakamme vematiko samaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vaggasaññī ovadati …pe…If it is an illegitimate legal procedure but he is unsure of it, and the Sangha of nuns is complete but he perceives it as incomplete, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.3.2.14vematiko ovadati …pe…If it is an illegitimate legal procedure but he is unsure of it, and the Sangha of nuns is complete but he is unsure of it, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.3.2.15samaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure but he is unsure of it, and the Sangha of nuns is complete and he perceives it as such, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.

3.2.16Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññī samaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vaggasaññī ovadati …pe…If it is an illegitimate legal procedure but he perceives it as legitimate, and the Sangha of nuns is complete but he perceives it as incomplete, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.3.2.17vematiko ovadati …pe…If it is an illegitimate legal procedure but he perceives it as legitimate, and the Sangha of nuns is complete but he is unsure of it, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.3.2.18samaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti pācittiyassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure but he perceives it as legitimate, and the Sangha of nuns is complete and he perceives it as such, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense entailing confession.

3.2.19Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññī vaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure but he perceives it as illegitimate, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete and he perceives it as such, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.2.20Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññī vaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vematiko ovadati …pe…If it is a legitimate legal procedure but he perceives it as illegitimate, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete but he is unsure of it, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.2.21samaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure but he perceives it as illegitimate, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete but he perceives it as complete, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

3.2.22Dhammakamme vematiko vaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vaggasaññī ovadati …pe…If it is a legitimate legal procedure but he is unsure of it, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete and he perceives it as such, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.2.23vematiko ovadati …pe…If it is a legitimate legal procedure but he is unsure of it, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete but he is unsure of it, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.2.24samaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure but he is unsure of it, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete but he perceives it as complete, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

3.2.25Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññī vaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vaggasaññī ovadati …pe…If it is a legitimate legal procedure and he perceives it as such, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete and he perceives it as such, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.2.26vematiko ovadati …pe…If it is a legitimate legal procedure and he perceives it as such, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete but he is unsure of it, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.2.27samaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure and he perceives it as such, and the Sangha of nuns is incomplete but he perceives it as complete, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

3.2.28Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññī samaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vaggasaññī ovadati …pe…If it is a legitimate legal procedure but he perceives it as illegitimate, and the Sangha of nuns is complete but he perceives it as incomplete, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.2.29vematiko ovadati …pe…If it is a legitimate legal procedure but he perceives it as illegitimate, and the Sangha of nuns is complete but he is unsure of it, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.2.30samaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure but he perceives it as illegitimate, and the Sangha of nuns is complete and he perceives it as such, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

3.2.31Dhammakamme vematiko samaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vaggasaññī ovadati …pe…If it is a legitimate legal procedure but he is unsure of it, and the Sangha of nuns is complete but he perceives it as incomplete, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.2.32vematiko ovadati …pe…If it is a legitimate legal procedure but he is unsure of it, and the Sangha of nuns is complete but he is unsure of it, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.2.33samaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure but he is unsure of it, and the Sangha of nuns is complete and he perceives it as such, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

3.2.34Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññī samaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vaggasaññī ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure and he perceives it as such, and the Sangha of nuns is complete but he perceives it as incomplete, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.2.35Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññī samaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ vematiko ovadati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is a legitimate legal procedure and he perceives it as such, and the Sangha of nuns is complete but he is unsure of it, then if he instructs those nuns, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.3.2.36Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññī samaggaṁ bhikkhunisaṅghaṁ samaggasaññī ovadati, anāpatti.If it is a legitimate legal procedure and he perceives it as such, and the Sangha of nuns is complete and he perceives it as such, then if he instructs those nuns, there is no offense.

3.3.0Non-offenses

3.3.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:3.3.2uddesaṁ dento,if he recites;3.3.3paripucchaṁ dento,if he tests them;143.3.4“osārehi ayyā”ti vuccamāno, osāreti,if he recites when asked to do so;153.3.5pañhaṁ pucchati,if he asks a question;3.3.6pañhaṁ puṭṭho katheti,if he replies when asked a question;3.3.7aññassatthāya bhaṇantaṁ bhikkhuniyo suṇanti,if he is speaking for the benefit of someone else and the nuns listen in;3.3.8sikkhamānāya,if it is to a trainee nun;3.3.9sāmaṇeriyā,if it is to a novice nun;3.3.10ummattakassa,if he is insane;3.3.11ādikammikassāti.if he is the first offender.

3.3.12Ovādasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ paṭhamaṁ.The training rule on instructing nuns without approval, the first, is finished.

Translator’s notes

  1. “Should” renders anujānāmi. See Appendix of Technical Terms for discussion.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:1.23

  2. This set of eight qualities is also found at AN 8.52:2.1.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:2.26

  3. For the rendering of pariveṇa as “yard”, see Appendix of Technical Terms.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:3.1.13

  4. “Are you all here” renders samaggāttha, literally, “Are you united”. Sp 2.149: Samaggātthāti sabbā āgatatthāti attho, “Are you united: the meaning is, ‘Have you all come?’”

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:3.1.16

  5. For the meaning of niyyādetabbo in this context, see the usage in the origin story to the next rule, Bu Pc 22:1.9. Sp 2.149: Niyyādetabboti appetabbo … Ovādaṁ aniyyādetvāti eso bhaginiyo ovādoti avatvā, “Niyyādetabbo: should display it. … Ovādaṁ aniyyādetvā: not having said, ‘Sisters, this is the instruction.’”

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:3.1.18

  6. Sp 2.149: Osāretabboti pāḷi vattabbā, “Osāretabbo: the Canonical text is to be spoken.”

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:3.1.19

  7. “Acts of respect” renders sāmīcikammaṁ. Sp 2.149: sāmīcikammanti maggasampadānabījanapānīyāpucchanādikaṁ anucchavikavattaṁ, “Sāmīcikammaṁ means appropriate duties such as giving way, fanning, offering drinking water, etc.”

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:3.1.20

  8. The Pali word behind the translation “monastery” is āvāsa. This refers to the area of the simā, the monastery zone, as established through a legal procedure. This area may be much larger than the space occupied by any actual buildings.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:3.1.22

  9. Heavy offense, garudhamma, here refers to the saṅghādisesa offenses, the offenses entailing suspension.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:3.1.30

  10. “Correct” renders vacanapatha. For the meaning of this word, see Bhikkhu Sujato, “Bhikkhuni Vinaya Studies”, pp. 73–76.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:3.1.36

  11. It is not entirely clear how this offense comes about, but it must somehow relate to what we find in segment 3.1.17 above. It seems the text here assumes that the nuns reply “no” to the follow-up question in segment 3.1.17 of whether they are keeping the important principles, in which case the appointed monk is supposed to recite them. Only if he does not do so at this point, does he incur an offense of wrong conduct under this rule.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:3.1.38

  12. “He does not give the instruction” renders ovādaṁ aniyyādetvā. Sp 2.149: Ovādaṁ aniyyādetvāti eso bhaginiyo ovādoti avatvā “He does not give the instruction: not having said, ‘Sisters, this is the instruction.’” This seems a bit contrived, but in light of segment 3.1.18 above and the origin story to Bu Pc 22:1.9 perhaps it is nevertheless the right interpretation.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:3.1.40

  13. The legal procedure in question is the one that gives approval to a monk to instruct the nuns. Sp 2.150: Adhammakammetiādīsu bhikkhunovādakasammutikammaṁ kammanti veditabbaṁ, “Adhammakamme: the legal procedure that gives approval to instruct the nuns should be understood.”

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:3.2.1

  14. “Testing” renders paripuccha. The basic meaning of paripucchā is “to question” or “to ask”, as used for instance in Bu Pc 71. Often, however, as in the present case, it refers to a teacher questioning his student, in the sense of finding out how much the student knows. In such cases I render the word as “testing”.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:3.3.3

  15. That osāreti must mean “recite” can be seen from Bu Pc 4:2.3.5 where there is no offense if osārentaṁ opāteti, “he prompts one who is osārentaṁ.” The difference between uddesaṁ deti and osāreti is not clear to me.

    ↩ pli-tv-bu-vb-pc21:3.3.4