Bi Pc 57

57. Apavāraṇāsikkhāpada

Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhuniyo gāmakāvāse vassaṁvuṭṭhā sāvatthiṁ agamaṁsu. Bhikkhuniyo tā bhikkhuniyo etadavocuṁ— “katthāyyāyo vassaṁvuṭṭhā; kattha bhikkhusaṅgho pavārito”ti? “Na mayaṁ, ayye, bhikkhusaṅghaṁ pavāremā”ti. Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo vassaṁvuṭṭhā bhikkhusaṅghaṁ na pavāressantī”ti …pe… “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo vassaṁvuṭṭhā bhikkhusaṅghaṁ na pavārentī”ti? “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti. Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo vassaṁvuṭṭhā bhikkhusaṅghaṁ na pavāressanti. Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—

Not doing the invitation ceremony Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time a number of nuns who had completed the rainy-season residence in a village monastery went to Sāvatthī. The nuns there asked them, “Venerables, where did you spend the rains residence? Where did you invite the Sangha of monks for correction?” “We didn’t invite the Sangha of monks for correction.” The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How could nuns who have completed the rains residence not invite the Sangha of monks for correction?” … “Is it true, monks, that nuns didn’t do this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … “How could nuns not do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

“Yā pana bhikkhunī vassaṁvuṭṭhā ubhatosaṅghe tīhi ṭhānehi na pavāreyya diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā, pācittiyan”ti.

Final ruling

‘If a nun who has completed the rainy-season residence does not invite correction from both Sanghas in regard to three things—what has been seen, heard, or suspected—she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Yā panāti yā yādisā …pe… bhikkhunīti …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti. Vassaṁvuṭṭhā nāma purimaṁ vā temāsaṁ pacchimaṁ vā temāsaṁ vuṭṭhā. Ubhatosaṅghe tīhi ṭhānehi na pavāressāmi diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā”ti dhuraṁ nikkhittamatte 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. Who has completed the rainy-season residence: who has completed the first three or the last three months of the rainy-season residence. If she thinks, “I won’t invite correction from both Sanghas in regard to three things—what has been seen, heard, or suspected,” then by the mere fact of abandoning her duty, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Anāpatti— sati antarāye, pariyesitvā na labhati, gilānāya, āpadāsu, ummattikāya, ādikammikāyāti.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if there is an obstacle; if she searches, but does not find anyone to invite for correction; if she is sick; if there is an emergency; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.