24. Āmisasikkhāpada
Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. Tena kho pana samayena therā bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo ovadantā lābhino honti cīvarapiṇḍapātasenāsanagilānappaccayabhesajjaparikkhārānaṁ. Chabbaggiyā bhikkhū evaṁ vadanti— “na bahukatā therā bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo ovadituṁ; āmisahetu therā bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo ovadantī”ti. Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti— “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū evaṁ vakkhanti— ‘na bahukatā therā bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo ovadituṁ; āmisahetu therā bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo ovadantī’”ti …pe… “saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, evaṁ vadetha— ‘na bahukatā therā bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo ovadituṁ; āmisahetu therā bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo ovadantī’”ti? “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti. Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, evaṁ vakkhatha— ‘na bahukatā therā bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo ovadituṁ; āmisahetu therā bhikkhū bhikkhuniyo ovadantī’ti. Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
Accusing monks of teaching nuns for profit Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the senior monks who were instructing the nuns received robe-cloth, almsfood, dwellings, and medicinal supplies. And the monks from the group of six said this about them, “The senior monks aren’t instructing the nuns as a service, but for the sake of worldly gain.” The monks of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can the monks from the group of six say that the senior monks aren’t instructing the nuns to render a service, but for the sake of worldly gain?” … “Is it true, monks, that you say this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … “Foolish men, how can you say this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this: