Vinaya Pitaka (2): Bhikkhuni-vibhanga (the analysis of Nun’ rules)
by I. B. Horner | 2014 | 66,469 words | ISBN-13: 9781921842160
The English translation of the Bhikkhuni-vibhanga: the second part of the Suttavibhanga, which itself is the first book of the Pali Vinaya Pitaka, one of the three major ‘baskets’ of Therevada canonical literature. It is a acollection of rules for Buddhist nuns. The English translation of the Vinaya-pitaka (second part, bhikkhuni-vibhanga) contain...
Nuns’ Confession (Pāṭidesaniya) 2–8
Bi-Pd.2.1.1 BD.3.422 … at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the group of six nuns having had oil asked for, partook of it … having had honey … molasses … fish … meat … milk … curds asked for, partook of them.[1] People … Bi-Pd.1.1.1–Bi-Pd.1.1.2. Instead of ghee read curds … “… this rule of training:
“Whatever nun who is not ill, having had oil (honey, molasses, fish, meat, milk, curds) asked for, Vin.4.348 should partake of it, it should be confessed by that nun, saying: ‘I have fallen, ladies, into a blameworthy matter, unbecoming, which ought to be confessed; I confess it.’”
Bi-Pd.2.2.1 Whatever means: … nun is to be understood in this case.
Not ill means: for whom there comes to be comfort without curds.
Ill means: for whom there does not come to be comfort without curds.
Oil means: sesamum oil, oil of mustard seeds, oil containing honey, oil of the castor-oil plant, oil from tallow. Honey means: honey of bees. Molasses means: what is produced from sugar-cane. Fish means: it is called one that lives in water. Meat means: the meat of those whose meat is allowable. Milk means: milk of cows or milk of she-goats or milk of buffaloes, milk ‘of those whose meat is allowable. Curds means: curds from just these.[2]
If she is not ill and has them[3] asked for for herself … Bi-Pd.1.2. Instead of ghee read curds. … if she is the first wrong-doer.
Bi-Pd.2.3.1 BD.3.423 Recited, ladies, are the eight rules for offences which ought to be confessed. Concerning them, I ask the ladies: I hope that you are quite pure in this matter? And a second time I ask: I hope that you are quite pure in this matter? And a third time I ask: I hope that you are quite pure in this matter? The ladies are quite pure in this matter, therefore they are silent; thus do I understand this.
Told are the offences which ought to be confessed. Vin.4.349
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Referring to curds.
[3]:
Referring to curds.