Suspension 15

Origin Story

At that time, the Buddha was in Sāvatthī in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. When Somā and Vappajī bhikkhunīs had been criticized and admonished by the sangha, the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and Thullanandā bhikkhunī instructed them thus: “You should live together. Why? We’ve also seen other bhikkhunīs live together, be close together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses. Out of anger, the sangha instructs you to live apart.” 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 the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and Thullanandā bhikkhunī: “The sangha has carried out the criticism and admonishment against Somā and Vappajī bhikkhunīs. Why do you instruct them thus: ‘Don’t live apart. Why? We’ve also seen bhikkhunīs be close together, behave badly, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses. Out of anger, the sangha instructs you to live apart’?”

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 the group-of-six and Thullanandā bhikkhunīs: “The sangha has carried out the criticism and admonishment against Somā and Vappajī bhikkhunīs. Why do you instruct them thus: ‘Don’t live apart. You should live together. Why? We’ve also seen bhikkhunīs live together, behave badly, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses. Out of anger, the sangha instructs you to live apart’?” Then, when the World-honored One had criticized the group-of-six and Thullanandā bhikkhunīs in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “I allow that the bhikkhunī sangha carries out (an act of) criticism against the group-of-six and Thullanandā bhikkhunīs to make them give up this matter, in a formal act with a motion as fourth. They should carry out the criticism 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 thus:

Saṅghakamma

‘Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. When the sangha had carried out the criticism and admonishment against Somā and Vappajī bhikkhunīs, these bhikkhunīs of the group-of-six and Thullanandā bhikkhunī instructed them thus: “Don’t live apart. You should live together. Why? We’ve also seen bhikkhunīs be close together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses. Out of anger, the sangha instructs you to live apart.” If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha approve to carry out the criticism against the group-of-six and Thullanandā bhikkhunīs to give up this matter: “Don’t say: ‘Don’t live apart. You should live together.’ And also don’t say: ‘We’ve also seen bhikkhunīs be close together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses. Out of anger, the sangha instructs you to live apart.’ Now there are really just these two bhikkhunīs who are close together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses, there are no others. If these bhikkhunīs aren’t close together, don’t behave badly together, and don’t have a bad reputation spread around, they’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma, and live comfortably.” This is the motion.’

‘Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. When the sangha had carried out the criticism and admonishment against Somā and Vappajī bhikkhunīs, these group-of-six bhikkhunīs and Thullanandā bhikkhunī have instructed them thus: “Don’t live apart. You should live together. We’ve also seen bhikkhunīs be close together, behave badly, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses. Out of anger, the sangha instructs you to live apart.” The sangha now carries out the criticism against the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and Thullanandā bhikkhunī to give up this matter: “(Don’t say:) ‘Don’t live apart. You should live together.’ And also don’t say: ‘We’ve also seen bhikkhunīs be close together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses. Out of anger, the sangha instructs you to live apart.’ Now there are really just these two bhikkhunīs who are close together, behave badly, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses, there are no others. If these bhikkhunīs aren’t close together, they’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 against the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and Thullanandā 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 criticized and admonished the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and Thullanandā bhikkhunī to make them 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 against the group-of-six bhikkhunīs and Thullanandā bhikkhunī, they told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus went and told the Buddha. The Buddha said: “If there’s such a bhikkhunī again, the sangha should also carry out a formal act of criticism and admonishment with a motion as fourth to make her give up this matter. 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, when the bhikkhunī sangha carries out criticism and admonishment, instructs other bhikkhunīs thus: “Don’t live apart, you should live together! I’ve also seen other bhikkhunīs who don’t live apart, who live together, behave badly, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses. Out of anger, the sangha instructs you to live apart,” the bhikkhunīs should admonish that bhikkhunī: “Venerable sister, don’t instruct other bhikkhunīs thus: ‘Don’t live apart. I’ve also seen other bhikkhunīs live together, behave badly, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses. Out of anger, the sangha instructs you to live apart.’ Now there are really just these two bhikkhunīs who live together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses, there are no others. If they live apart, they’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma, and live comfortably.” If when the bhikkhunīs admonish that bhikkhunī, she holds firmly on to it and doesn’t give it up, the bhikkhunīs should admonish her three times to make her give up this matter. If she gives it up by the third time, it’s fine. If not, that bhikkhunī commits an offense that should be given up after three admonishments, a saṅghādisesa.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“Sangha” is as above.

If when the sangha carries out criticism and admonishment (against bhikkhunīs), another bhikkhunī instructs them thus: “Don’t live apart, you should live together! I’ve also seen other bhikkhunīs live closely together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses. Out of anger, the sangha instructs you to live apart,” the bhikkhunīs should admonish that bhikkhunī: “Venerable sister, don’t instruct other bhikkhunīs thus: ‘Don’t live apart. You should live together. I’ve also seen other bhikkhunīs be close together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses. Out of anger, the sangha instructs you to live apart.’ Now there are really just these two bhikkhunīs, there are no others. (They) The Chinese text says “you”.* are close together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation, and hide each other’s offenses. If these bhikkhunīs live apart, they’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma, and live comfortably. Please give up this matter now. When you’re criticized 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: “Venerable younger sister, we have carried out the motion, the announcements are still left. Please give up this matter.” 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: “We’ve 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 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: “Younger sister, 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 she follows this advice, it’s good. If not, when third announcement has been carried out, it’s a saṅghādisesa. 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. When, before the motion, she instructs them: “Don’t live apart. I’ve also seen other bhikkhunīs live together, behave badly together, have a bad reputation spread around, and hide each other’s offenses. Out of anger, the sangha instructs you to live apart,” all are dukkaṭas. If there’s such a bhikkhunī, and when the sangha criticizes and admonishes her, there’s a bhikkhu who 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 instructs her: “Don’t give it up,” and if they carry out the criticism, it’s a thullaccaya (for her). If they don’t carry out the criticism, it’s a dukkaṭa (for her).

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 when first spoken to; if they criticize her 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 her against the dhamma and vinaya, against the Buddha’s teaching; and if they don’t criticize her 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 15th rule.)