Suspension 6

Origin Story

At that time, the World-honored One was in Sāvatthī in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. Then Weici bhikkhunī had been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but she didn’t comply, didn’t repent from her offenses, and the sangha hadn’t yet allowed her back to live with the community again. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī, without informing the bhikkhunī sangha, without the sangha’s approval, just went outside the territory and carried out the formal act for Weici to release her from the offense. 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 Thullanandā bhikkhunī: “The bhikkhunī sangha has suspended Weici bhikkhunī according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but she doesn’t comply, doesn’t repent from her offenses, and the sangha hasn’t yet allowed her back to live with the community again. Why did you, without the bhikkhunī sangha’s approval, just go outside the territory and release her from the offense?”

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 Thullanandā: “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. Thullanandā, when the bhikkhunī sangha had suspended Weici bhikkhunī according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but when she didn’t comply, didn’t repent, and when the sangha hadn’t yet allowed her back to live with the community again, why did you, without the bhikkhunī sangha’s approval, just go outside the territory and carry out the formal act to release her from the offense?” Then the World-honored One said to the bhikkhus: “Thullanandā has all kinds of taints, and is the first to break this precept. 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 another bhikkhunī has been suspended by the sangha according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching, but doesn’t comply, hasn’t repented, and the sangha hasn’t yet carried out the formal act of living with the community, but out of affection, without asking the sangha, without the sangha’s approval, she goes outside the territory and carries out the formal act to release her from the offense, that bhikkhunī commits an immediate offense that should be given up, a saṅghādisesa.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“Sangha” is as explained 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 laid down by the Buddha for clearing the offense.

“Doesn’t repent” means there are offenses that she doesn’t tell people about.

“Not yet carried out the (formal act of) living with the community” means the person suspended by the sangha hasn’t yet been released from the offense.

If someone out of affection, without asking the sangha, without the sangha’s approval, goes outside the territory and carries out the formal act to release her from the offense, then when the three announcements are over, it’s a saṅghādisesa. When the motion and two announcements are over, they’re three thullaccayas. When the motion and one announcement are over, they’re two thullaccayas. When the motion is over, it’s one thullaccaya. If the motion hasn’t yet been finished, it’s a dukkaṭa. If they haven’t yet done the motion, when they gather the sangha, or when the assembly is complete, 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 informs the sangha, if she gets the sangha’s approval, if she can make (the offender) submit and confess the original offense, and if the sangha doesn’t release her from the offense out of ill-will, and she releases that person, the offense isn’t committed. If the first sangha who had carried out the formal act moves, dies, goes on a long journey, disrobes, is abducted by criminals, or washed away by water, and she releases that person from the offense, 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 sixth rule.)