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THE PATIMOKKHA

THE BHIKKUNI PATIMOKKHA[]

DISCIPLINARY RULES FOR BHIKKUNIS(NUNS)

Nissaggiya Pachittiya Dhamma(Confession & Atonement)[]

(CONFESSION & ATONEMENT FOR OFFENCE)

Pali Versions : Pali-English Version & Pali-Devanagri Version

Nissaggiya Summary[]

Noble ladies, the thirty offences for which there'll be atonement are recited.

Section on bowls

Precept for accumulating bowls

1.If a bhikkhuni accumulates bowls, it is an offence for atonement.

Precept for untimely robe material

2. If a bhikkhuni determines robe material received at the wrong time as `received at the right time', it is an offence for atonement.

Precept for exchanging robes

3. If a bhikkhuni having exchanged robes with another bhikkhuni later says: 'Noble lady, this is your robe, take it and return my robe, that is mine.' And she tears away her robe, or instigates another to tear it away, it is an offence for atonement.

Precept for teaching others

4. If a bhikkhuni does not teach one and teaches another, it is an offence for atonement.

Precept for exchanging things

5. If a bhikkhuni exchanges things, with one and not with another, it is an offence for atonement.

First precept for giving away things of the Community.

6. If a bhikkhuni gives away requisites of the Community, intended for some other purpose, it's an offence for atonement.

Second precept for exchanging things of the Community.

7. If a bhikkhuni skillfully exchanges requisites of the Community, intended for some other purpose for something else, it's an offence for atonement.

First precept for giving away things of the Community to people

8. If a bhikkhuni gives eatables of the Community, intended for some other purpose to people, it's an offence for atonement.

Second precept for giving belongings of the Community to people

9. If a bhikkhuni skillfully exchanges eatables of the Community, intended for some other purpose with people, it's an offence for atonement.

Precept for exchanging belongings of the Community with a person

10. If a bhikkhuni skillfully exchanges eatables of the Community, intended for some other purpose with a person, it's an offence for atonement.

Section one on the bowl

THE SECTION ON ROBES

The precept concerning the important robe

11. A bhikkhuni bargaining on the important robe could do so to the maximum of four copper coins, if she exceeds that, it's an offence for atonement.

Important robe `garupàvura,na' It's the robe offered after the recitation of the `rules for the bhikkhunis' to the bhikkhuni who observed the rains, at the place of observing the rains.

Precept concerning an unimportant robe

12. A bhikkhuni bargaining on an unimportant robe could do so to the maximum of three and half copper coins, if she exceeds that, it's an offence for atonement.

Unimportant robe `lahupàvuraõa' It's any other robe offered after the recitation of the `rules for bhikkhunis' to the bhikkhunis who observed the rains ceremony.

Precept for the robe material offered to make robes, for the rains ceremony.

13. At a time when robes are sewn, and the robe material is distributed, a bhikkhuni could be in possession of extra robes for ten days, if she exceeds that period, it's an offence for atonement.

Precept to leave no room for errors

14. At a time when robes are sewn, and the robe material is distributed, a bhikkhuni should not put aside any one of her three robes even for one night unless with the consent of the bhikkhunis otherwise, it's an offence for atonement.

Precept for robes out of season.

15. At a time when robes are sewn, and the robe material is distributed, the need of a robe may arise to a bhikkhuni. If she desires, she could accept the robe material and quickly make the robe. She should complete it within a month the most or even within another week, if she exceeds that time limit, it's an offence for atonement.

Precept for asking robe material from an unknown.

16. If a bhikkhuni asks for robe material from an unknown householder or a householder's wife, without a reason, it's an offence for atonement. The reason here is her robe is stolen or it is destroyed.

Further for the former precept.

17. If the aforesaid man or woman had offered much material for robes, much more material than the necessary, that bhikkhuni could prepare her robe with them, if she exceeds her needs, it's an offence for atonement.

First precept for favors.

18 For a certain bhikkhuni, an unknown householder, or an unknown householder's wife may collect some money and contemplate: `With the collected money, I will buy some robes material, prepare the robe and supply a robe to the bhikkhuni of such name.' Before the rains ceremony that bhikkhuni approaching that household would suggest an alternate suggestion: `Sir, good if you buy this material with the collected money and offer me a robe of this nature out of compassion' it's an offence for atonement.

Second precept for favors.

19 For a certain bhikkhuni, two unknown householders, or two unknown householder's wives collect some money and individually contemplate: `With the collected money, I will buy some robes material, prepare the robe and supply a robe to the bhikkhuni of such name.' Before the rains ceremony that bhikkhuni approaching those households might suggest an alternate suggestion: `Sirs, good if you buy this material with the collected money and offer me one robe of this nature, both in concord out of compassion.' It's an offence for atonement.

Precept for the royalty.

20. To a certain bhikkhuni the king, a royal member, a brahmin, or a householder sends a messenger saying: `With this money buy the necessary robe material and supply the bhikkhuni of such name with a robe.' That messenger approaches the bhikkhuni and says: `Noble lady, accept this money, it is sent to prepare a robe for you.' If the bhikkhuni needs a robe she should reply the messenger thus: `Good sir, I do not accept money for the preparation of robes, I accept suitable robes, at the correct time.' The messenger then asks: `Has the noble lady a stewardess?' The bhikkhuni could name someone in the monastery or a laywoman The messenger would approach the named stewardess give her the money and the message and approaching the bhikkhuni would say: `Noble lady, we informed the stewardess, at the suitable time approach her and get the robe offered to you.' For the preparation of the robe the bhikkhuni should approach the stewardess two or three times and remind her about it, saying: `Good one I need a robe.' Good if the robe is prepared when reminded two or three times. The fourth, fifth and up to the sixth time a silent notification should be made. Good if the robe is prepared by then and offered. If she makes any other endeavors to get the robe, it is an offence for atonement. If the robe is not prepared, either the bhikkhuni herself should go or a messenger should be sent to those who sent the material for robes, saying: `Good sirs, out of the money you sent for the material for robes the bhikkhuni did not get anything. Do not pursue it, do not be angry over it.' That is the course of action there.

The section on robes is the second.

THE SECTION ON GOLD

Precept for gold.

21.If a bhikkhuni picks up, or makes another to pick up or puts away carefully, gold, silver or coins, it's an offence for atonement.

The precept for trafficking with money.

22. If a bhikkhuni engages herself in trafficking with money in various ways,

it is an offence for atonement.

The precept for buying and selling.

23. If a bhikkhuni engages in buying and selling various things, it is an offence for atonement.

The precept for less than five mends

24. If a bhikkhuni with a bowl that has less than five mends, buys a new bowl it is an offence for atonement. That bhikkhuni should abandon her new bowl in front of the Community of bhikkhunis, and be the possessor of the last bowl after everyone chooses a bowl and she would be told: `Bhikkhuni, this is your bowl until it breaks up.' That is the course of action there.

The precept for medicinal requisites

25. Sick bhikkhunis could accept and partake medicinal requisites such as ghee, fresh butter, oil, honey and molasses, keeping them for a period of seven days. If someone keeps them beyond that period, it is an offence for atonement.

The precept for tearing away a robe.

26. If a bhikkhuni gives a robe to another bhikkhuni and later angry and displeased would tear it away or make another tear it away from her, it is an offence for atonement.

The precept for giving an order to make yarn.

27. If a bhikkhuni herself informs the weavers to make cloth and get a robe woven, it is an offence for atonement

The major precept for weavers

28.Should a certain householder or a householder's wife, give orders to the weavers to weave a special cloth for a certain bhikkhuni not related, to them. And should the bhikkhuni before the rains ceremony, approach the weaver and suggest: `Sir, is this cloth woven for me?. Good if you make it tall and wide, weave the cloth well, give a good finish and a brush. We will give you a small bonus for doing this work ` Should that bhikkhuni later give the weaver a small bonus at least in the form of something put in her bowl, it is an offence for atonement.

The precept for an extra robe

29. An extra robe is gained by the bhikkhuni who completes the three months of the rains and the last ten days successfully. It should be accepted by the bhikkhuni, aware of this fact and should be kept until the ceremony is over. If she keeps it longer than that, it is an offence for atonement.

The precept for one, thoroughly knowing

30. A bhikkhuni appropriating the gains of the Community for herself, thoroughly knowing they are the gains of the Community does an offence that merit atonement. .

The third section on gold

Noble ladies, the thirty offences that merit atonement, are recited, now I ask how is your purity? For the second and for the third time I ask how is your purity? The noble ladies are pure, therefore they are silent, and I record it as such.

The end of the Nissaggiya Pachittiya Dhamma (offences that merit confession & atonement)