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’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 69
Bi-Pc.69.1.1 BD.3.377 … at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time nuns for two years did not wait upon an ordained woman instructor.[1] These[2] were ignorant, inexperienced, they did not know what was allowable or what was not allowable. Those who were modest nuns … spread it about, saying: “How can these nuns for two years not wait upon an ordained woman instructor?” …
“Is it true, as is said, monks, that nuns … woman instructor
“It is true, lord.”
The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them, saying:
“How, monks, can nuns … ordained woman instructor? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … this rule of training: Vin.4.326
“Whatever nun for two years should not wait upon an ordained woman instructor, there is an offence of expiation.”
Bi-Pc.69.2.1 Whatever means: … nun is to be understood in this case.
Ordained means: the upasampadā, ordination conferred.
Woman instructor means: she is called a woman preceptor.[3]
BD.3.378 Two years means: two years.
Should not wait upon means: should not herself attend upon.[4]
If she thinks: “I will not wait upon her for two years,” in throwing off the responsibility, there is an offence of expiation.
Bi-Pc.69.2.2 There is no offence if the woman preceptor is ignorant or shameless; if he is ill; if there are accidents; if she is mad, if she is the first wrong-doer.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
pavattinī, or proposer—i.e., for a nun on whom the upasampada ordination is being conferred, as at Vin.2.271.
[2]:
Doubtless here referring to the nuns.
[3]:
upajjhā. The first sentence of n.1 at Vinaya Texts iii.351 must therefore be corrected; also upajjhā occurs twice at Vin.3.35. The word (upajjhā) at Vin.3.100 is obviously a shortened plural form of the regular masculine upajjhāya, for see Vin.3.101 = Bi-Pc.69.2.1 which contains two stories about two (different) upajjhāya. Pali-English Dictionary is probably right in giving both upajjha, short masculine, as at Vin.1.94 and doubtless once at Vin.3.35; and upajjhā, feminine, as in above explanation of pavattinī and in the “no offence” clause, and doubtless once at Vin.3.35.