Suspension 14

Origin Story

At that time, the Buddha was in Sāvatthī in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. Then there were two bhikkhunīs, one called Somā and the other called Vappajī, who always lived closely together, and behaved badly together. Their bad reputation spread around, and they covered up each other’s offenses. The other bhikkhunīs said: “Venerable sisters, you two shouldn’t live closely together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses. If you don’t live closely together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses, you’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma, and live comfortably.” But they did as before, and didn’t repent. 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 rebuked Somā and Vappajī bhikkhunīs: “Why do you live closely together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses? The other bhikkhunīs have told you: ‘Venerable sisters, don’t live closely together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses. If you don’t live closely together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses, you’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma, and live comfortably.’” But they did as before, and didn’t repent.

The bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus went and told the World-honored One. The World-honored One then for this reason gathered the bhikkhu sangha, and criticized Somā and Vappajī bhikkhunīs: “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. Why do you live closely together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses? The other bhikkhunīs have told you: ‘Venerable sisters, don’t live closely together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses. If you don’t live closely together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses, you’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma, and live comfortably.’ But you still haven’t repented?” Then, when the World-honored One had criticized them in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “I allow that the sangha carries out (an act of) criticism and admonishment against Somā and Vappajī bhikkhunīs to make them give up this matter, in a formal act with a motion as fourth. They should carry out the criticism and admonishment as follows: In the bhikkhunī sangha, they should choose a capable person who can carry out formal acts as above. She should carry out the motion as follows:

Saṅghakamma

‘Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. These bhikkhunīs Somā and Vappajī live closely together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses. The other bhikkhunīs have admonished them: “Venerable sisters, don’t live closely together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses. If you don’t live closely together, behave badly together, and have a bad reputation spread around, you’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma, and live comfortably.” But they did as before, and didn’t repent. If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha approve to carry out the criticism and admonishment for Somā and Vappajī bhikkhunīs to give up this matter: “Don’t be close together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses. If you don’t live closely together, behave badly together, and have a bad reputation spread around, you’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma, and live comfortably.” This is the motion.’

‘Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. These bhikkhunīs Somā and Vappajī live closely together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses. The other bhikkhunīs have told them: “Venerable sisters, don’t be close together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses. If you’re not close together, behave badly together, and have a bad reputation spread around, you’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma, and live comfortably.” But they did as before, and didn’t repent. The sangha now carries out the criticism and admonishment for Somā and Vappajī bhikkhunīs to give up this matter: “Don’t be close together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses. If you’re not close together, behave badly together, and have a bad reputation spread around, you’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma, and live comfortably.” Those of the venerable sisters who accept that the sangha carries out the criticism and admonishment for Somā and Vappajī bhikkhunīs 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 accepted to carry out the criticism and admonishment for Somā and Vappajī bhikkhunīs to give up this matter. The sangha accepts this, therefore you’re silent. This matter is remembered thus.’”

Origin Story (continued)

When the sangha had carried out the formal act of criticism and admonishment with a motion as fourth like this, 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 (again), the bhikkhunī 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 bhikkhunīs live closely together, behave badly together, their bad reputation spreads around, and they cover up each other’s offenses, the bhikkhunīs should admonish those bhikkhunīs: “Venerable sisters, don’t be close together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses. If you don’t live closely together, you’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma, and live comfortably.” If when the bhikkhunīs admonish those bhikkhunīs like this, they hold firmly on to it and don’t give it up, the bhikkhunīs should admonish them three times to give up this matter. If they give it up by the third time, it’s fine. If not, those bhikkhunīs commit an offense that should be given up after three admonishments, a saṅghādisesa.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“Closely” means frequently joking together, frequently interacting with each other, frequently speaking together.

“Behaving badly” means planting flowers and trees themselves, or instructing people to plant them, watering them or instructing people to water them, picking the flowers or instructing people to pick them, making flower garlands or instructing people to make them, stringing them on a thread or instructing people to string them on a thread, wearing (the flowers) and going out or instructing people to wear them and go out, wearing the garlands and going out or instructing people to wear them and go out, wearing the threads and going out or instructing people to wear the threads and go out; settling down in a village, and sitting on one bed and standing up together with an adult or a youth, drinking and eating from the same utensil, talking and joking, singing, dancing, chanting, and acting themselves, singing along with others, doing performances, playing a drum or sounding a conch, imitating the cry of a peacock or other birds, running, walking with a fake limp, whistling, spinning one’s body around, or being hired as an entertainer.

“A bad reputation” means that bad speech is circulating everywhere in the four directions, and nobody hasn’t heard about it.

“Offenses” means except for the eight pārājika rules, hiding other offenses.

If bhikkhunīs live closely together, behave badly together, their bad reputation spreads around, and they cover up each other’s offenses, the other bhikkhunīs should admonish those bhikkhunīs: “Venerable sisters, don’t be close together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and cover up each other’s offenses. If you don’t live closely together, behave badly together, and have a bad reputation spread around, you’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma, and live comfortably. You should give up this matter. When you’re criticized and admonished by the sangha, don’t commit a heavy offense.” If they follow 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 sisters, we have carried out the motion, the announcements are still left. You should give up this matter. When you’re criticized and admonished by the sangha, don’t commit a heavy offense.” If they follow 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 again: “Younger sisters, we have carried out the motion and the first announcement, two announcements are still left. Please give up this matter. When you’re criticized and admonished by the sangha, don’t commit a heavy offense.” If they follow 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: “Younger sisters, we have carried out the motion and two announcements, one announcement is still left. Please give up this matter. When you’re criticized and admonished by the sangha, don’t commit a heavy offense.” If they follow this advice, it’s good. If not, when third announcement has been carried out, it’s a saṅghādisesa. If they give it up after the motion and two announcements, they commit three thullaccayas. If they give it up after the motion and one announcement, they commit two thullaccayas. If they give it up after the motion, they commit one thullaccaya. If they give it up when the motion hasn’t yet been fully carried out, it’s a dukkaṭa. If they live closely together, behave badly together, and have a bad reputation spread around before they do the motion, all are dukkaṭas.

For a bhikkhu, this is treated according to whatever he committed. For a sikkhamānā, a sāmaṇera, and a sāmaṇerī, it’s a dukkaṭa. This is called “to commit”.

“Not committed” means if they give it up when first spoken to; if (the sangha) criticizes and admonishes them against the dhamma in a divided assembly; against the dhamma in a harmonious assembly; according to dhamma in a divided assembly; with what resembles dhamma in a divided assembly; with what resembles dhamma in a harmonious assembly; if they criticize and admonish them against the dhamma and vinaya, against the Buddha’s teaching; and if they don’t carry out the criticism and admonishment 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 14th rule.)