Expulsion 8

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying in Kosambī in Ghosita’s park. At that time, Chanda This bhikkhu is probably the same person as the Pāli tradition’s bhikkhu Channa, who in lay life had been the Buddha’s charioteer.* had broken one or two rules of the five groups of offenses pārājikas, saṅghādisesas, pācittiyas, pātidesanīyas, minor rules.*. The bhikkhus said: “Venerable Chanda, do you see the offense?” He answered: “What’s the use of your asking me if I see it? I don’t see it.” For this reason, the bhikkhus went and informed the World-honored One. The Buddha said to the bhikkhus: “If Chanda has broken any rule of the five groups of offenses and says that he doesn’t see it, the sangha should carry out an act of suspension for not seeing an offense.” When the sangha had carried out an act of suspension for not seeing an offense, he went to the bhikkhunī monastery and said (to his mother Chandamātā): “Relative, please note that the sangha has carried out an act of suspension against me. I may not take dhamma nourishment or material nourishment together with them.” She then said: “How strange! Now I’ll take dhamma nourishment or material nourishment together with you.” Then she followed him.

The bhikkhunīs admonished her: “Chandamātā, the sangha in harmony has carried out an act of suspension against Chanda according to dhamma. He hasn’t yet acted according to dhamma. Don’t follow him.” She answered: “I’m his mother, I gave birth to him. If I don’t follow him, who will follow him?” The bhikkhunīs then told Mahāpajāpatī, and she went and informed the World-honored One of this matter. The Buddha said: “Chandamātā bhikkhunī follows someone against whom the sangha has carried out an act of suspension according to dhamma. You should admonish her three times in a secluded place, among a few people three times, and within the sangha three times to make her give up this matter. “Admonishing in a secluded place” means that you should ask: ‘Did you really, knowing that the sangha has carried out an act of suspension against Chanda according to dhamma, follow him?’ If she answers: ‘I really did this,’ you should admonish her: ‘Chandamātā, the sangha has carried out an act of suspension according to dhamma. He hasn’t yet acted according to dhamma. Don’t follow him. I now admonish you out of compassion, wanting to benefit you. One admonishment is over, two remain. Do you give up this matter?’ In this way, she should be admonished a second and a third time. “Among a few people” are also three admonishments like this. If she doesn’t give it up, a formal act to request permission Pāli: apalokana-kamma.* should be carried out in the sangha. You should say:’

Saṅghakamma

May the noble sangha listen. The sangha has carried out an act of suspension against Chanda according to dhamma. He hasn’t yet acted according to dhamma. Chandamātā follows him. She has been admonished three times in a secluded place and three times among a few people to make her give up this matter, but she hasn’t given it up. If the right time has come for the sangha, the sangha should now also admonish her three times to make her give up this matter.’ In the sangha, you should ask: ‘Chandamātā, did you really, knowing that the sangha in harmony has carried out an act of suspension against Chanda according to dhamma and that he hasn’t yet acted according to dhamma, follow him? And having been admonished three times in a secluded place and three times among a few people to make you give up this matter, you haven’t given it up?’ If she answers: ‘I really did this,’ then you should admonish her: ‘The sangha in harmony has carried out an act of suspension against Chanda according to dhamma. Don’t follow him. The sangha admonishes you wanting to benefit you. You should follow the sangha’s advice. One admonishment is over, two remain. Do you give it up?’ If she answers: ‘I don’t give it up,’ she should be admonished like this a second and third time.”

Origin Story (continued)

They said it thus, and she still didn’t give it up.

For this reason, the bhikkhunīs went and informed the World-honored One. The Buddha said: “Summon her.” When she came, he asked her: “Did you really do this?” She answered: “I really did this.” The Buddha said: “This is an unwholesome thing. Have you not often heard me with countless skillful means criticize being contrary and difficult to admonish, and praise being easy to admonish? This is against the dhamma, against the vinaya, against the Buddha’s teaching. One can’t develop in wholesome states like this. Why did you follow a suspended bhikkhu? From now on, it’s no longer allowed to follow a suspended bhikkhu.” The Buddha told Gotamī: “Convene all the bhikkhunīs living in the vicinity of Kosambī. … Those who have already heard it should listen again:

Final Ruling

If a bhikkhunī knows that the sangha in harmony has carried out an act of suspension against a bhikkhu according to dhamma and vinaya, and that he hasn’t yet acted according to dhamma, and follows him, the bhikkhunīs should admonish her: “Venerable, the sangha in harmony has carried out an act of suspension against that bhikkhu according to dhamma and vinaya, and he hasn’t yet acted according to dhamma; don’t follow that bhikkhu.” If she, when admonished by the bhikkhunīs, says: “If I don’t follow him, who will follow him?,” the bhikkhunīs should admonish her like this a second and a third time. If she gives up this matter, it’s fine. If not, that bhikkhunī is pārājika, and shouldn’t live in community.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” is as explained above. “Knows” means she either knows herself or hears it from others. “In harmony” means an undivided asssembly. “According to dhamma and vinaya” means for not seeing an offense, for not clearing it, or for not giving up the three (wrong) views. “Three (wrong views)” means speaking ill of the suttas, wrong view, and (the two) extreme views eternalism and annihilationism.*. “Suspended” means he can’t live in community. “Not yet acted according to dhamma” means he hasn’t yet gon along with the sangha, and hasn’t yet been reinstated. “Following” means taking dhamma nourishment or material nourishment together with him. The bhikkhunīs should admonish that bhikkhunī like this: “Venerable, the bhikkhu sangha has carried out an act of suspension against this bhikkhu according to dhamma and vinaya. He hasn’t yet acted according to dhamma. Don’t follow him, or take dhamma nourishment or material nourishment with him.” If she, when admonished, still says: “If I don’t follow him, who will follow him?,” she should be heavily admonished up to three times. If she gives it up, it’s fine. If not, that bhikkhunī is pārājika. “A pārājika” is as explained above.

If she, when admonished three times in a secluded place, gives it up, it’s fine. If not, she breaks a minor vinaya rule for each admonishment. Among a few people is also the same. Within the sangha, during the first admonishment, she breaks a minor vinaya rule. When the admonishment is over, it’s a thullaccaya. During the second admonishment, she breaks a minor vinaya rule. When the admonishment is over, it’s a thullaccaya. During the third admonishment, it’s a thullaccaya. When the admonishment is over, it’s a pārājika. All minor vinaya breaches and thullaccayas from the secluded place, from among a few people, and from within the sangha turn into one grave offense, namely the pārājika. If she gives it up in between, they should be dealt with accordingly.

Summary Verse

Sexual intercourse, stealing, taking a human life, claiming a superhuman state untruthfully,

Below the shoulders and above the knees, fulfilling eight things with a defiled mind,

Covering up a grave offense, following a suspended, the eight pārājikas are finished.