Dhammaquelle Texts, Talks and Meditations

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Bi Ss 10

The training rule on renouncing the training

10. Sikkhaṁpaccācikkhaṇasikkhāpada

from: The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing suspension

The training rule on renouncing the training

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the nun Caṇḍakāḷī had argued with the nuns. In anger she said this: “I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Teaching, I renounce the Sangha, I renounce the training! The Sakyan daughters are not the only monastics. There are other monastics who have a sense of conscience, who are afraid of wrongdoing and fond of the training. I’ll practice the spiritual life with them.”

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, “How could the nun Caṇḍakāḷī say this in anger?” … “Is it true, monks, that the nun Caṇḍakāḷī said this in anger?”

“It’s true, Sir.”

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

Final ruling

‘If a nun says in anger, “I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Teaching, I renounce the Sangha, I renounce the training! The Sakyan daughters are not the only monastics. There are other monastics who have a sense of conscience, who are afraid of wrongdoing and fond of the training. I’ll practice the spiritual life with them,” then the nuns should correct her like this: “Venerable, don’t say such things in anger, ‘I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Teaching, I renounce the Sangha, I renounce the training! The Sakyan daughters are not the only monastics. There are other monastics who have a sense of conscience, who are afraid of wrongdoing and fond of the training. I’ll practice the spiritual life with them.’ Take delight, Venerable; the Teaching is well proclaimed. Practice the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering.” If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop. If she then stops, all is well. If she does not stop, then after the third announcement that nun too has committed an offense entailing sending away and suspension.’”

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. In anger: discontent, having hatred, hostile. Says: “I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Teaching, I renounce the Sangha, I renounce the training! The Sakyan daughters are not the only monastics. There are other monastics who have a sense of conscience, who are afraid of wrongdoing and fond of the training. I’ll practice the spiritual life with them.” Her: that nun who speaks thus. The nuns:

other nuns who see it or hear about it. They should correct her like this:

“Venerable, don’t say such things in anger: ‘I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Teaching, I renounce the Sangha, I renounce the training! The Sakyan daughters are not the only monastics. There are other monastics who have a sense of conscience, who are afraid of wrongdoing and fond of the training. I’ll practice the spiritual life with them.’ Take delight, Venerable; the Teaching is well proclaimed. Practice the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering.”

And they should correct her a second and a third time. If she stops, all is well. If she does not stop, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If those who hear about it do not say anything, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

That nun, even if she has to be pulled into the Sangha, should be corrected like this:

“Venerable, don’t say such things in anger: ‘I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Teaching, I renounce the Sangha, I renounce the training! The Sakyan daughters are not the only monastics. There are other monastics who have a sense of conscience, who are afraid of wrongdoing and fond of the training. I’ll practice the spiritual life with them.’ Take delight, Venerable; the Teaching is well proclaimed. Practice the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering.”

They should correct her a second and a third time. If she stops, all is well. If she does not stop, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Should press her:

“And, monks, she should be pressed like this. A competent and capable nun should inform the Sangha:

‘Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The nun so-and-so says this in anger: “I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Teaching, I renounce the Sangha, I renounce the training! The Sakyan daughters are not the only monastics. There are other monastics who have a sense of conscience, who are afraid of wrongdoing and fond of the training. I’ll practice the spiritual life with them.” And she keeps on saying it. If the Sangha is ready, it should press her to make her stop. This is the motion.

Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The nun so-and-so says this in anger: “I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Teaching, I renounce the Sangha, I renounce the training! The Sakyan daughters are not the only monastics. There are other monastics who have a sense of conscience, who are afraid of wrongdoing and fond of the training. I’ll practice the spiritual life with them.” And she keeps on saying it. The Sangha presses her to make her stop. Any nun who approves of pressing her to make her stop should remain silent. Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up.

For the second time I speak on this matter … For the third time I speak on this matter …

The Sangha has pressed nun so-and-so to stop. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.’”

After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. After each of the first two announcements, she commits a serious offense. When the last announcement is finished, she commits an offense entailing suspension. For one who commits the offense entailing suspension, the offense of wrong conduct and the serious offenses are annulled. That too: this is said with reference to the preceding offenses. After the third announcement: there is an offense when she has been pressed for the third time, not as soon as the misconduct has been committed. Entailing sending away: she is sent away from the Sangha. Suspension: … Therefore, too, it is called an offense entailing suspension.

Permutations

If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing suspension. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing suspension. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing suspension.

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, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if she has not been pressed; if she stops; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.

The tenth offense entailing suspension is finished.

Translation: English (Bhikkhu Brahmali). Source: SuttaCentral / Bilara (public domain, CC0).

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