Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
The Nuns’ Analysis
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Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,
Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī samaggena saṅghena ukkhittaṁ ariṭṭhaṁ bhikkhuṁ gaddhabādhipubbaṁ anuvattati.
the nun Thullanandā was taking sides with the monk Ariṭṭha, an ex-vulture-killer, who had been ejected by a unanimous Sangha.
Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,
“kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā samaggena saṅghena ukkhittaṁ ariṭṭhaṁ bhikkhuṁ gaddhabādhipubbaṁ anuvattissatī”ti …pe…
“How can Venerable Thullanandā take sides with the monk Ariṭṭha who has been ejected by a unanimous Sangha?” …
“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī samaggena saṅghena ukkhittaṁ ariṭṭhaṁ bhikkhuṁ gaddhabādhipubbaṁ anuvattatī”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā is doing this?”
kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī samaggena saṅghena ukkhittaṁ ariṭṭhaṁ bhikkhuṁ gaddhabādhipubbaṁ anuvattissati.
“How can the nun Thullanandā take sides with the monk Ariṭṭha who has been ejected by a unanimous Sangha?
evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:
“Yā pana bhikkhunī samaggena saṅghena ukkhittaṁ bhikkhuṁ dhammena vinayena satthusāsanena anādaraṁ appaṭikāraṁ akatasahāyaṁ tamanuvatteyya, sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi evamassa vacanīyā—
‘If a nun takes sides with a monk who has been ejected by a unanimous Sangha—in accordance with the Teaching, the Monastic Law, and the Teacher’s instruction—and who is disrespectful, who has not made amends, and who has not made friends, the nuns should correct her like this:
‘eso kho, ayye, bhikkhu samaggena saṅghena ukkhitto dhammena vinayena satthusāsanena anādaro appaṭikāro akatasahāyo, māyye, etaṁ bhikkhuṁ anuvattī’ti.
“Venerable, this monk has been ejected by a unanimous Sangha in accordance with the Teaching, the Monastic Law, and the Teacher’s instruction. He’s disrespectful, hasn’t made amends, and hasn’t made friends. Venerable, don’t take sides with this monk.”
Evañca sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi vuccamānā tatheva paggaṇheyya, sā bhikkhunī bhikkhunīhi yāvatatiyaṁ samanubhāsitabbā tassa paṭinissaggāya.
If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop.
Yāvatatiyañce samanubhāsiyamānā taṁ paṭinissajjeyya, iccetaṁ kusalaṁ.
If she then stops, all is well.
No ce paṭinissajjeyya, ayampi pārājikā hoti asaṁvāsā ukkhittānuvattikā”ti.
If she does not stop, she too is expelled and excluded from the community. The training rule on taking sides with one who has been ejected.’”
…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.
samānasaṁvāsako samānasīmāyaṁ ṭhito.
those belonging to the same Buddhist sect and staying within the same monastery zone.
āpattiyā adassane vā appaṭikamme vā appaṭinissagge vā ukkhitto.
who has been ejected for not recognizing an offense, for not making amends, or for not giving up a bad view.
yena dhammena yena vinayena.
in accordance with that Teaching, in accordance with that Monastic Law.
jinasāsanena buddhasāsanena.
in accordance with the Victor’s instruction, in accordance with the Buddha’s instruction.
saṅghaṁ vā gaṇaṁ vā puggalaṁ vā kammaṁ vā nādiyati.
he does not heed the Sangha, groups of monks, individual monks, or legal procedures.
samānasaṁvāsakā bhikkhū vuccanti sahāyā.
monks belonging to the same Buddhist sect is what is meant by “friends”.
So tehi saddhiṁ natthi, tena vuccati akatasahāyoti.
He is not together with them—therefore it is called “who has not made friends”.
yaṁdiṭṭhiko so hoti yaṅkhantiko yaṁruciko, sāpi taṁdiṭṭhikā hoti taṅkhantikā taṁrucikā.
she has the same view, the same belief, the same persuasion as he does.
aññāhi bhikkhunīhi. Yā passanti yā suṇanti tāhi vattabbā—
other nuns who see it or hear about it. They should correct her like this:
“eso kho, ayye, bhikkhu samaggena saṅghena ukkhitto dhammena vinayena satthusāsanena anādaro appaṭikāro akatasahāyo.
“Venerable, this monk has been ejected by a unanimous Sangha in accordance with the Teaching, the Monastic Law, and the Teacher’s instruction. He’s disrespectful, hasn’t made amends, and hasn’t made friends.
no ce paṭinissajjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If she does not stop, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Sutvā na vadanti, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If those who hear about it do not say anything, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.
Sā bhikkhunī saṅghamajjhampi ākaḍḍhitvā vattabbā—
That nun, even if she has to be pulled into the midst of the Sangha, should be corrected like this:
“eso kho, ayye, bhikkhu samaggena saṅghena ukkhitto dhammena vinayena satthusāsanena anādaro appaṭikāro akatasahāyo.
“Venerable, this monk has been ejected by a unanimous Sangha in accordance with the Teaching, the Monastic Law, and the Teacher’s instruction. He’s disrespectful, hasn’t made amends, and hasn’t made friends.
No ce paṭinissajjati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If she does not stop, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Byattāya bhikkhuniyā paṭibalāya saṅgho ñāpetabbo—
A competent and capable nun should inform the Sangha:
Ayaṁ itthannāmā bhikkhunī samaggena saṅghena ukkhittaṁ bhikkhuṁ dhammena vinayena satthusāsanena anādaraṁ appaṭikāraṁ akatasahāyaṁ tamanuvattati, sā taṁ vatthuṁ na paṭinissajjati.
The nun so-and-so is taking sides with a monk who has been ejected by a unanimous Sangha—in accordance with the Teaching, the Monastic Law, and the Teacher’s instruction—and who is disrespectful, who has not made amends, and who has not made friends. And she keeps on doing it.
Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ, saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuniṁ samanubhāseyya tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya.
If the Sangha is ready, it should press her to make her stop.
Ayaṁ itthannāmā bhikkhunī samaggena saṅghena ukkhittaṁ bhikkhuṁ dhammena vinayena satthusāsanena anādaraṁ appaṭikāraṁ akatasahāyaṁ tamanuvattati.
The nun so-and-so is taking sides with a monk who has been ejected by a unanimous Sangha—in accordance with the Teaching, the Monastic Law, and the Teacher’s instruction—and who is disrespectful, who has not made amends, and who has not made friends.
Saṅgho itthannāmaṁ bhikkhuniṁ samanubhāsati tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya.
The Sangha presses her to make her stop.
Yassā ayyāya khamati itthannāmāya bhikkhuniyā samanubhāsanā tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya, sā tuṇhassa;
Any nun who approves of pressing her to make her stop should remain silent.
Samanubhaṭṭhā saṅghena itthannāmā bhikkhunī tassa vatthussa paṭinissaggāya.
The Sangha has pressed nun so-and-so to stop.
Khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmī’”ti.
The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.’”
dvīhi kammavācāhi thullaccayā,
After each of the first two announcements, she commits a serious offense.
kammavācā pariyosāne āpatti pārājikassa.
When the last announcement is finished, she commits an offense entailing expulsion.
purimāyo upādāya vuccati.
this is said with reference to the preceding offenses entailing expulsion.
seyyathāpi nāma puthusilā dvedhā bhinnā appaṭisandhikā hoti, evameva bhikkhunī yāvatatiyaṁ samanubhāsanāya na paṭinissajjantī assamaṇī hoti asakyadhītā. Tena vuccati pārājikā hotīti.
just as an ordinary stone that has broken in half cannot be put together again, so is a nun who does not stop when pressed three times not a monastic, not a daughter of the Sakyan. Therefore it is said “she is expelled.”
saṁvāso nāma ekakammaṁ ekuddeso samasikkhatā. Eso saṁvāso nāma.
Community: joint legal procedures, a joint recitation, the same training—this is called “community”.
So tāya saddhiṁ natthi. Tena vuccati asaṁvāsāti.
She does not take part in this—therefore it is called “excluded from the community”.
Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññā na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pārājikassa.
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, but she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing expulsion.
Dhammakamme vematikā na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pārājikassa.
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing expulsion.
Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññā na paṭinissajjati, āpatti pārājikassa.
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing expulsion.
Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Adhammakamme vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.