Origin story

First sub-story

At one time the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country at Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery. At that time the monks from the group of six went to the nuns’ dwelling place and instructed the nuns from the group of six.

Soon afterwards the nuns said to the nuns from the group of six, “Come, Venerables, let’s go to the instruction.”

“There’s no need; the monks from the group of six came and instructed us right here.”

The nuns complained and criticized the monks from the group of six, “How can the monks from the group of six go and instruct the nuns at their dwelling place?” And those nuns told the monks.

The monks of few desires … complained and criticized those monks, “How can the monks from the group of six go and instruct the nuns at their dwelling place?”… “Is it true, monks, that you did this?”

“It’s true, Master.”

The Buddha rebuked them, “… Foolish men, how can you go and instruct the nuns at their dwelling place? This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Preliminary ruling

‘If a monk goes to a nun’s dwelling place, and then instructs her, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

In this way the Master laid down this training rule for the monks.

Second sub-story

Soon afterwards Mahāpajāpati Gotamī became sick. The senior monks went to see her and said, “We hope you’re bearing up, Gotamī, we hope you’re getting better?”

“I’m not bearing up, Venerables, and I’m not getting better. Please give me a teaching.”

“It’s not allowable for us to go and teach a nun at her dwelling place.” And being afraid of wrongdoing, they did not teach her.

Soon afterwards, the Master robed up in the morning, took his bowl and robe, and went to Mahāpajāpati Gotamī, where he sat down on a prepared seat. And he said to her, “I hope you’re bearing up, Gotamī, I hope you’re getting better?”

“Previously, Venerable Sir, the senior monks would come and teach me, and because of that I would be comfortable. But now they don’t teach because they’re afraid of wrongdoing, saying, ‘It’s been prohibited by the Master.’ And because of that I’m not comfortable.”

After instructing, inspiring, and gladdening her with a teaching, the Master rose from his seat and departed. Soon afterwards the Master gave a teaching and addressed the monks, “Monks, I allow you to go and instruct a sick nun at her dwelling place. And so, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Final ruling

‘If a monk goes to the nuns’ dwelling place and then instructs them, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. The appropriate reason is that a nun is sick.’”

Definitions

A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who has been given the full ordination by a complete Order through a procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is unchallengeable and fit to stand— this sort of monk is meant in this case.

The nuns’ dwelling place: where nuns stay for even a single night.

Goes to: goes there.

Them: they have been given the full ordination by both Orders.

Instructs: if he instructs about the eight rules to be respected, he commits an offense entailing confession.

Unless there is an appropriate reason: except at an appropriate time.

A sick nun: A formal meeting of the community,” saṃvāsa, is defined at pācittiya 69, MS.2.1274, as the observance day ceremony, the invitation ceremony, or a procedure.she is not able to go to the instruction or to a formal meeting of the community.

Permutations

If she is fully ordained, and he perceives her as fully ordained, and he goes to her dwelling place and then instructs her, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. If she is fully ordained, but he is unsure if she is, and he goes to her dwelling place and then instructs her, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession. If she is fully ordained, but he perceives her as not fully ordained, and he goes to her dwelling place and then instructs her, unless there is an appropriate reason, he commits an offense entailing confession.

If he instructs her with another teaching, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he instructs a nun who is fully ordained only on one side, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If she is not fully ordained, but he perceives her as fully ordained, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If she is not fully ordained, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If she is not fully ordained, and he perceives her as not fully ordained, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if there is an appropriate reason; if he gives a summary; if he questions them; if he recites when asked to do so; if he asks a question; if he replies when asked a question; if he is speaking for the benefit of someone else and the nuns listen in; if it is to a trainee nun; if it is to a novice nun; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The third rule, the training rule on nuns’ dwelling places, is finished.