Bi Pc 44

44. Gihiveyyāvaccasikkhāpada

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karonti. Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karissantī”ti …pe… “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karontī”ti? “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti. Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo gihiveyyāvaccaṁ karissanti. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

Serving householders Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the nuns were providing services for householders. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can nuns provide services for householders?” … “Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … “How can nuns do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

“Yā pana bhikkhunī gihiveyyāvaccaṁ kareyya, pācittiyan”ti.

Final ruling

‘If a nun provides services for a householder, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Yā panāti yā yādisā …pe… bhikkhunīti …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti. Gihiveyyāvaccaṁ nāma agārikassa yāguṁ vā bhattaṁ vā khādanīyaṁ vā pacati, sāṭakaṁ vā veṭhanaṁ vā dhovati, āpatti pācittiyassa.

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. Services for a householder: if she cooks congee, a meal, or fresh food for a householder, or she washes a wrap garment or a turban for them, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Anāpatti— yāgupāne, saṅghabhatte, cetiyapūjāya, attano veyyāvaccakarassa yāguṁ vā bhattaṁ vā khādanīyaṁ vā pacati, sāṭakaṁ vā veṭhanaṁ vā dhovati, ummattikāya, ādikammikāyāti.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if it is a congee drink; if it is a meal for the Sangha; if it is to venerate a shrine; if she cooks congee, a meal, or fresh food for her own service provider, or she washes a wrap garment or a turban for them; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.