Chulavagga 10.9

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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-9.

1. Now when the Lord Buddha had stayed at Veshali as long as he thought fit, he sat out towards Savatthi; and, journeying straight on, he in due course arrived thereat. And there, at Savatthi, the Lord Buddha remained in the Jetavana, Anatha Pindika's Park.

Now at that time the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus threw dirty water over Bhikkhunis, thinking, perhaps, they would fall in love with them.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'A Bhikkhu is not, O Bhikkhus, to throw dirty water at a Bhikkhuni. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata. I allow a penalty, O Bhikkhus, to be imposed on that Bhikkhu.

Then the Bhikkhus thought: 'What penalty is it that ought to be imposed on him?' They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'That Bhikkhu is to be declared to be one who is not to be saluted by the Bhikkhuni-sangha.'

Now at that time the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhus uncovered their bodies, or their thighs, or their private parts, and showed them to Bhikkhunis, or addressed Bhikkhunis with wicked words, or associated with Bhikkhunis, thinking, perhaps, they would fall in love with them.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'A Bhikkhu is not, O Bhikkhus, to do [any of these things]. Whosoever does, shall be guilty of a dukkata. I allow, O Bhikkhus, a penalty to be imposed on that Bhikkhu.'

Then the Bhikkhus thought: 'What penalty is it that ought to be imposed on him?' They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'That Bhikkhu is to be declared to be one who is not to be saluted by the Bhikkhuni-sangha.'

2. [The last section repeated of the Chabbaggiya Bhikkhunis, the decision being the same down to]

Then the Bhikkhus thought: 'What penalty is it that ought to be imposed on her?' They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to prohibit her (from entering a Vihara).'

When the prohibition was laid upon them, they would not accept it. They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to inhibit them from the Exhortation.'

3. Then the Bhikkhus thought: 'Is it lawful to hold Uposatha with a Bhikkhuni(Nun) who has been inhibited from the Exhortation, or is it not lawful?'

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'You are not, O Bhikkhus, to hold Uposatha with a Bhikkhuni who has been inhibited from the Exhortation until such time as her case has been settled.'

Now at that time the venerable Udayi, after having inhibited the Exhortation (to one or more Bhikkhunis), went away on a journey. The Bhikkhunis

murmured, were indignant, and complained, saying: 'How can the venerable Udayi [act so]?'

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'You are not, O Bhikkhus, to go on a journey after having inhibited the Exhortation. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata.'

Now at that time foolish and incompetent Bhikkhus inhibited the Exhortation,

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'The Exhortation is not, O Bhikkhus, to be inhibited by a foolish, incompetent Bhikkhu. When such a one does so, he shall be guilty of a dukkata.'

Now at that time Bhikkhus inhibited the Exhortation without grounds and without cause.

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'You are not, O Bhikkhus, to inhibit the Exhortation without ground and without cause. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata.'

Now at that time Bhikkhus, who had inhibited the Exhortation, would not give a decision (on the matter out of which the inhibition arose).

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'When, O Bhikkhus, you have inhibited the Exhortation, you are not to abstain from giving a decision (on the matter out of which the inhibition arose). Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata.'

4. Now at that time Bhikkhunis did not go to the Exhortation. They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'A Bhikkhuni, O Bhikkhus, is not to omit going to the Exhortation. Whosoever does so, shall be dealt with according to the rule.'

Now at that time the whole Bhikkhuni-sangha went to the Exhortation together. The people murmured, were indignant, and complained, saying: 'There are their wives, there are their mistresses; now will they take pleasure together.'

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'The whole Bhikkhuni-sangha is not, O Bhikkhus, to go to the Exhortation together. And if it should so go, it is guilty of a dukkata. I allow, O Bhikkhus, four or five Bhikkhunis to go together.'

[The same when four or five went the decision ending,]

'I allow, O Bhikkhus, two or three Bhikkhunis to go together to Exhortation; and let them go up to some one Bhikkhu, and arrange their robes over one shoulder, and, sitting down on their heels, let them stretch forth their joined palms, and thus address him: "The Bhikkhuni-sangha salutes the feet of the Bhikkhu-sangha, and requests permission to come for the purpose of the Exhortation being held; may that be granted, they say, to the Bhikkhuni-sangha."

'Then he who is entrusted with the recitation of the Patimokkha is to ask: "Is there any Bhikkhu who has been appointed to hold the Exhortation of the Bhikkhunis?"

'If a Bhikkhu has been appointed to that, the reciter of the Patimokkha is to say: "Such and such a Bhikkhu has been appointed to hold Exhortation to the Bhikkhunis. Let the Bhikkhuni-sangha come to him accordingly."

'If no Bhikkhu has been appointed to that the reciter of the Patimokkha is to say: "Which of the venerable ones is able to hold Exhortation to

the Bhikkhunis?" If any one is able to do so, and is possessed of the eight qualifications, he is to appoint him to that, and is to say: "Such and such a Bhikkhu is appointed to hold Exhortation to the Bhikkhunis. Let the Bhikkhuni-sangha come to him."

'If no one is able to do so, the reciter of the Patimokkha is to say: "There is no Bhikkhu appointed to hold Exhortation to the Bhikkhunis. May the Bhikkhuni-sangha obtain its desire in peace."'

5. Now at that time Bhikkhus did not accept the (office of holding) Exhortation. They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'The Exhortation is not, O Bhikkhus, to be declined. Whosoever shall not accept it, shall be guilty of a dukkata.'

Now at that time a certain Bhikkhu was stupid. To him the Bhikkhunis went, and said: 'Sir, please to accept the (duty of holding) Exhortation.'

'I, sister, am stupid. How can I accept the Exhortation?'

'You should take it, Sir; for thus has it been laid down by the Lord Buddha: "Bhikkhus are to accept the (duty of holding) Exhortation to the Bhikkhunis."'

They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'I allow, O Bhikkhus, all the rest, save the stupid, to accept the Exhortation.'

[The same repeated of a sick Bhikkhu, and a Bhikkhu on a journey. The same case put of a Bhikkhu living in the jungle. The decision is,]

'I allow a Bhikkhu living in the jungle, O Bhikkhus, to accept the Exhortation, and to appoint a time and place for the meeting, saying: "There will I perform it."'

Now at that time Bhikkhus accepted the Exhortation, but did not perform it. They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'The Exhortation, O Bhikkhus, is not to be neglected. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata.'

Now at that time Bhikkhunis did not attend at the place appointed. They told this matter to the Lord Buddha.

'A Bhikkhuni(Nun) is not, O Bhikkhus, to omit attending at the place appointed. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukkata.'