Expulsion 8

Origin Story

At that time, the World-honored One was in Kosambī in Ghosita’s park. Then the venerable Chanda bhikkhu This bhikkhu is the Pāli tradition’s bhikkhu Channa, who in lay life had been the Buddha’s charioteer.* had been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but he didn’t comply, didn’t repent, and the sangha hadn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again. Then there was a bhikkhunī called Weici who went back and forth to look after Chanda bhikkhu. The bhikkhunīs said: “Chanda bhikkhu has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but he doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent, and the sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again. Don’t follow him.” Weici answered: “Venerable sisters, this is my older brother. If I don’t support him now, when will I do it?” And she followed him as before, and didn’t stop.

When the bhikkhunīs heard this, there were among them those with few wishes, who knew moderation, who practised the austerities, who were keen on training in the precepts, and who knew shame. They criticized Weici bhikkhunī: “Chanda bhikkhu has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but he doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent, and the sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again. Why do you now follow him?” Then the bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus went and told the World-honored One. The World-honored One for this reason gathered the bhikkhu sangha, and criticized Weici bhikkhunī: “What you did is wrong, is improper conduct, against the rules of renunciates, an impure practice, a practice not to be followed, shouldn’t be done. Chanda bhikkhu has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but he doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent, and the sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again. Why do you follow him?” When he had criticized her in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus:

“I allow that the sangha carries out a formal act of criticism with a motion as fourth against Weici bhikkhunī. They should carry out the criticism as follows: In the bhikkhunī sangha, they should choose a capable person, the most senior nun, or the nun next in line, or a vinaya reciter, or someone who doesn’t recite vinaya but who is capable of carrying out a formal act. She should carry out the motion as follows:

Saṅghakamma

‘Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. This Weici bhikkhunī knows that Chanda bhikkhu has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but that he doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent, and that the sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again, and still follows him. The bhikkhunīs have told her: “Chanda bhikkhu has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but he doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent, and the sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again. Don’t follow him.” But she follows him as before. If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha approve to carry out the criticism against Weici bhikkhunī to give up this matter: “Venerable sister, Chanda bhikkhu has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but he doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent, and the sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again. Don’t follow him.” This is the motion.’

‘Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. This Weici bhikkhunī knows that Chanda bhikkhu has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but that he doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent, and that the sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again, and still follows him. The bhikkhunīs have told her: “Chanda bhikkhu has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but he doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent, and the sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again. Don’t follow him.” But she follows him as before. The sangha now carries out the criticism against Weici bhikkhunī to give up this matter: “Chanda bhikkhu has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but he doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent, and the sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again. Don’t follow him.” Those of the venerable sisters who accept that the sangha carries out the criticism against Weici bhikkhunī to give up this matter should remain silent. Those who don’t accept this should speak. This is the first announcement.’ The second and the third should be recited likewise. ‘The sangha has carried out the criticism against Weici bhikkhunī to give up this matter. The sangha accepts this, therefore you’re silent. This matter is remembered thus.’

Origin Story (continued)

The criticism should be done like this.”

When the sangha had carried out the formal act with a motion as fourth against Weici bhikkhunī, they told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus went and told the World-honored One. The World-honored One said: “If there’s such a bhikkhunī who follows a bhikkhu suspended by the sangha, the sangha should also carry out a formal act of criticism with a motion as fourth like this. From now on, I’ll lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs, and state the 10 principles: … So that the true dhamma may last long. Someone wishing to recite the precept should recite like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī knows that a bhikkhu has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but that he doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent, and that the sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again, and she still follows him, the bhikkhunīs should say: “Venerable sister, this bhikkhu has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but he doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent, and the sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again; don’t follow him.” If when the bhikkhunīs admonish that bhikkhunī like this, she holds firmly on to this matter and doesn’t give it up, she should be admonished a second and third time to make her give up this matter. If she gives it up by the third admonishment, it’s fine. If not, that bhikkhunī is pārājika, and doesn’t live in community, because she committed the act of following a suspended one.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“Sangha” is as above.

“Suspended” means suspended by the sangha, in a formal act with a motion as fourth.

“Dhamma” means, according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching.

“Doesn’t comply” means doesn’t follow the procedures for clearing the offense.

“Doesn’t repent” means depending on the offense he committed, he hasn’t yet repented and purified it.

“The sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again” means the sangha hasn’t yet done the formal act to release him from the offense.

“Following him” means there are two kinds: One, in dhamma. Two, with robes and food. “Following in dhamma” means teaching him in the higher virtue, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom, teaching him knowledge and the recitation of suttas. “With robes and food” means giving him drinks and food, clothes, beds, bedding, and medicines for illnesses.

If a bhikkhunī knows that a bhikkhu has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but that he doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent, and that the sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again, and still follows him, the bhikkhunīs should say: “This bhikkhu has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but he doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent, and the sangha hasn’t yet allowed him back to live with the community again; don’t follow him. Please give up this matter; when you’re being charged by the sangha, don’t commit a heavy offense.” If she follows this advice, it’s good. If not, the motion should be carried out. When the motion has been carried out, they should say again: “Younger sister, you should know that we have carried out the motion, the announcements are still left. Give up this matter; when you’re being charged by the sangha, don’t commit a heavy offense.” If she follows this advice, it’s good. If not, the first announcement should be carried out. When the first announcement has been carried out, they should say: “Younger sister, we have carried out the motion and the first announcement for you, two announcements are still left. Please give up this matter; when you’re being charged by the sangha, don’t commit a heavy offense.” If she follows this advice, it’s good. If not, the second announcement should be carried out.

When the second announcement has been carried out, they should say again: “Younger sister, do you know? We’ve carried out the motion and two announcements, one announcement is still left. Give up this matter; when you’re being charged by the sangha, don’t commit a heavy offense.” If she follows this advice, it’s good. If not, when third announcement has been carried out, it’s a pārājika. If she gives it up after the motion and two announcements, she commits three thullaccayas. If she gives it up after the motion and one announcement, she commits two thullaccayas. If she gives it up after the motion, she commits one thullaccaya. If she gives it up when the motion hasn’t yet been fully carried out, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she follows a suspended bhikkhu before they do the motion, in all cases it’s a dukkaṭa. If when the sangha carries out the criticism for the charged bhikkhunī, a bhikkhu instructs her: “Don’t give it up,” and if the sangha carries out the criticism, it’s a thullaccaya (for him). If they don’t carry out the criticism, it’s a dukkaṭa (for him). If a bhikkhunī says: “Don’t give it up,” and if the sangha carries out the criticism, it’s a thullaccaya. If they don’t carry out the criticism, it’s a dukkaṭa. If someone other than a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī instructs her: “Don’t give it up,” then whether they criticize her or not, in all cases it’s a dukkaṭa.

For a bhikkhu, it’s a dukkaṭa. For a sikkhamānā, a sāmaṇera, and a sāmaṇerī, it’s a dukkaṭa. This is called “to commit”.

“Not committed” means if she gives it up at the first admonishment, if it was done against the dhamma in a divided assembly, if it was done against the dhamma in a harmonious assembly, if it was done according to dhamma in a divided assembly, if it was done with what resembles dhamma in a divided assembly, if it was done with what resembles dhamma in a harmonious assembly, if it was done with a different dhamma, a different vinaya, or different teachings of the Buddha, and if the criticism hasn’t yet been carried out at all, the offense isn’t committed.

“Not committed” means if she’s the first offender when the precept hadn’t yet been laid down, if she’s mad, if she’s distracted, or if she’s overcome with pain. (End of the eighth rule.)