Chulavagga 10.25

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Adapted from the Translation by T. W. Rhys Davids and Hermann Oldenberg

CHULAVAGGA (THE MINOR SECTION)

TENTH KHANDHAKA (ON THE DUTIES OF BHIKKHUNIS/NUNS)

Chapter-25.

1. Now at that time a certain woman who had already conceived, but did not know it, was received into the Order among the Bhikkhunis. Afterwards her womb moved within her. Then that Bhikkhuni thought: 'How shall I now conduct myself towards this child?'

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow her, O Bhikkhus, to bring it up till it have attained to years of discretion.'

Then the Bhikkhuni(Nun) thought: 'It is not permissible for me to live alone, nor for any other Bhikkhuni to live with a male child. What course ought I to pursue?'

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow the Bhikkhunis, O Bhikkhus, to depute any one Bhikkhuni, and give her as a companion to that (first-mentioned) Bhikkhuni.'

'And thus, O Bhikkhus, is she to be appointed: First that Bhikkhuni ought to be asked (whether she be willing to undertake the duty). After she has been asked, a learned and competent Bhikkhuni ought to lay the motion before the Sangha, saying:

'"Let the Sangha, venerable Ladies, hear me. If it seem meet to the Sangha, let the Sangha depute N. N. as a companion to M. M. That is the motion.

'"Let the Sangha,"' [&c., as usual, to the end of the Kammavaka.]

2. Then that companion Bhikkhuni thought: 'Now how should I conduct myself towards this child?'

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I prescribe that the Bhikkhunis, O Bhikkhus, conduct themselves towards that child precisely as they would towards other men, save only as regards the sleeping under the same roof.'

3. Now at that time a certain Bhikkhuni, who had been guilty of a grievous offence, was living subject to the Manatta penance. Then that Bhikkhuni thought: 'It is not permissible for me to live alone, and it is not permissible for any other Bhikkhuni to live with me. What now ought I to do?'

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

I allow the Bhikkhunis, O Bhikkhus, to depute any one Bhikkhuni, and to give her as a companion to that Bhikkhuni. And thus, O Bhikkhus, ought

she to be deputed [&c., as in last section but one, down to the end of the Kammavaka].'