The training rule on blocking

The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on nakedness

The training rule on blocking

Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time out-of-season robe-cloth had been given to the Sangha of nuns, and the Sangha gathered to share it out. Just then the nuns who were pupils of the nun Thullanandā were away. Thullanandā said to the nuns: “Venerables, there are nuns who are away. We cannot distribute the robe-cloth until they get back.” And she blocked the distribution of robe-cloth. Since the robe-cloth could not be distributed until those nuns returned, other nuns left. Then, when her pupils returned, Thullanandā had that robe-cloth distributed.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, “How could Venerable Thullanandā block a legitimate distribution of robe-cloth?” … “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?”

“It’s true, Sir.”

The Buddha rebuked her … “How could the nun Thullanandā do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

‘If a nun blocks a legitimate distribution of robe-cloth, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A: whoever … Nun: … The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case. A legitimate distribution of robe-cloth: it is distributed by a unanimous Sangha of nuns. Blocks: if she blocks it with the thought, “What can be done so that this robe-cloth isn’t distributed?”, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, and she blocks it, she commits an offense entailing confession. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she blocks it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she blocks it, there is no offense.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if she blocks it after demonstrating a benefit; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.

The seventh training rule is finished.

Pācittiyakaṇḍa Naggavagga

27. Paṭibāhanasikkhāpada

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhunisaṅghassa akālacīvaraṁ uppannaṁ hoti. Atha kho bhikkhunisaṅgho taṁ cīvaraṁ bhājetukāmo sannipati. Tena kho pana samayena thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā antevāsiniyo bhikkhuniyo pakkantā honti. Thullanandā bhikkhunī tā bhikkhuniyo etadavoca— “ayye, bhikkhuniyo pakkantā, na tāva cīvaraṁ bhājīyissatī”ti. Cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāhi. Bhikkhuniyo na tāva cīvaraṁ bhājīyissatīti pakkamiṁsu. Thullanandā bhikkhunī antevāsinīsu bhikkhunīsu āgatāsu taṁ cīvaraṁ bhājāpesi.

Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā dhammikaṁ cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāhissatī”ti …pe… “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī dhammikaṁ cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāhatī”ti?

“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī dhammikaṁ cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāhissati. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

“Yā pana bhikkhunī dhammikaṁ cīvaravibhaṅgaṁ paṭibāheyya, pācittiyan”ti.

Yā panāti yā yādisā …pe… bhikkhunīti …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti. Dhammiko nāma cīvaravibhaṅgo samaggo bhikkhunisaṅgho sannipatitvā bhājeti. Paṭibāheyyāti kathaṁ imaṁ cīvaraṁ na bhājeyyāti paṭibāhati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

Dhammike dhammikasaññā paṭibāhati, āpatti pācittiyassa. Dhammike vematikā paṭibāhati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Dhammike adhammikasaññā paṭibāhati, anāpatti.

Adhammike dhammikasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Adhammike vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. Adhammike adhammikasaññā, anāpatti.

Anāpatti— ānisaṁsaṁ dassetvā paṭibāhati, ummattikāya, ādikammikāyāti.

Sattamasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.