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SN 55.11PTS SN 5.3601 min read

A Saṅgha of a Thousand Nuns

Sahassabhikkhunisaṁghasutta

The Buddha teaches a thousand nuns the four factors of stream-entry.

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

  • 0.1Saṁyutta Nikāya 55.11Linked Discourses 55.11
  • 0.22. Rājakārāmavagga2. The Royal Monastery

0.3SahassabhikkhunisaṅghasuttaA Saṅgha of a Thousand Nuns

1.1Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati rājakārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in the Royal Monastery.11.2Atha kho sahassabhikkhunisaṅgho yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhagavā etadavoca:Then a Saṅgha of a thousand nuns went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. The Buddha said to them:2

2.1PTS 5.361“Catūhi kho, bhikkhuniyo, dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo.“Nuns, a noble disciple who has four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.2.2Katamehi catūhi?What four?2.3Idha, bhikkhuniyo, ariyasāvako buddhe aveccappasādena samannāgato hoti—It’s when a noble disciple has experiential confidence in the Buddha …2.4itipi so bhagavā …pe… satthā devamanussānaṁ buddho bhagavāti.2.5Dhamme …pe…the teaching …2.6saṅghe …pe…the Saṅgha …2.7ariyakantehi sīlehi samannāgato hoti, akhaṇḍehi …pe… samādhisaṁvattanikehi.And they have the ethical conduct loved by the noble ones … leading to immersion.2.8Imehi kho, bhikkhuniyo, catūhi dhammehi samannāgato ariyasāvako sotāpanno hoti avinipātadhammo niyato sambodhiparāyaṇo”ti.A noble disciple who has these four things is a stream-enterer, not liable to be reborn in the underworld, assured, destined for awakening.”

2.9Paṭhamaṁ.

Translator’s notes

  1. The Royal Monastery (rājakārāma) was a residence for nuns near Sāvatthī, also featured in MN 146.

    ↩ sn55.11:1.1
  2. This is the only time we hear of such a large community of nuns in the early texts, though the Apadānas know of even larger numbers.

    ↩ sn55.11:1.2