Suspension 15

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī created conflicts, and the sangha carried out a formal act according to dhamma and vinaya against her. When the formal act was finished, she resentfully and unreasonably slandered the sangha, and said: “The noble sangha follows desire, aversion, fear, and delusion. The sangha is relying on desire, aversion, fear, and delusion. For this reason they criticize me. This matter isn’t settled according to dhamma.” The bhikkhunīs admonished her: “Venerable, don’t slander the sangha unreasonably. The sangha doesn’t follow desire, aversion, fear, and delusion. The sangha doesn’t rely on desire, aversion, fear, and delusion to settle this matter not in accordance with dhamma.” When she was admonished like this a second and a third time, she didn’t stop. For this reason, the bhikkhunīs spoke with Mahāpajāpatī, and she went and informed the World-honored One of this matter. The Buddha said:

Preliminary Ruling

“You should go and admonish her three times in a secluded place, three times among a few people, and three times within the sangha to make her give up this matter. “Admonishing in a secluded place” means that you should ask in a secluded place: ‘Did you really resentfully and unreasonably slander the sangha: “The sangha follows desire, aversion, fear, and delusion. The sangha is relying on desire, aversion, fear, and delusion?”’ If she answers: ‘I really said this,’ then you should admonish her in a secluded place: ‘Don’t slander the sangha resentfully and unreasonably. The sangha doesn’t follow desire, aversion, fear, and delusion. The sangha doesn’t rely on desire, aversion, fear, and delusion to settle this matter not in accordance with dhamma. I now admonish you out of compassion, wanting to benefit you. One admonishment is over, two remain. Do you give up this matter?’ If she answers: ‘I don’t give it up,’ she should be admonished like this a second and third time. “Among a few people” is also like this. “Within the sangha,” you should carry out a formal act to request permission:

Saṅghakamma

‘May the noble sangha listen. Thullanandā bhikkhunī has slandered the sangha resentfully and unreasonably: “The sangha follows desire, aversion, fear, and delusion. The sangha is relying on desire, aversion, fear, and delusion.” 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.’

Preliminary Ruling (continued)

Within the sangha you should ask: ‘Did you really resentfully and unreasonably slander the sangha: “The sangha follows desire, aversion, fear, and delusion. … this matter isn’t settled according to dhamma?” And having been admonished three times in a secluded place and three times among a few people, you haven’t given it up?’ If she answers: ‘I really did this,’ the sangha should admonish her: ‘Don’t slander the sangha resentfully and unreasonably. The sangha doesn’t follow desire, aversion, fear, and delusion. … to settle this matter not in accordance with dhamma. The sangha now admonishes you out of compassion, wanting to benefit you. One admonishment is over, two remain. Do you give up this matter?’ If she answers: ‘I don’t give it up,’ she should be admonished like this a second and third time.” She still didn’t give it up.

Origin Story (continued)

For this reason, the bhikkhunīs went and informed the World-honored One. The Buddha said: “Summon that bhikkhunī.” When she came, the Buddha fully asked her about the above matter: “Did you really do this?” She answered: “I really did this.” The Buddha said: “Thullanandā, this is an unwholesome thing. Have you not often heard me with countless skillful means criticize contrary speech and praise gentle speech? Why did you speak contrarily? This is against the dhamma, against the vinaya, against the Buddha’s teaching. One can’t develop in wholesome states like this.” The Buddha told Mahāpajāpatī: “Convene all the bhikkhunīs living in the vicinity of Sāvatthī. … Those who have already heard it should listen again:

Final Ruling

If a bhikkhunī resentfully and unreasonably slanders the sangha, saying: ‘The sangha follows desire, aversion, fear, and delusion. The sangha is relying on desire, aversion, fear, and delusion. For this reason they criticize me,’ the bhikkhunīs should admonish her: ‘Venerable, don’t say: “The sangha follows desire, aversion, fear, and delusion. The sangha is relying on desire, aversion, fear, and delusion.” Why? The sangha doesn’t follow desire, aversion, fear, and delusion. Don’t resentfully and unreasonably slander the sangha.’ If that bhikkhunī when admonished by the bhikkhunīs persists firmly, and doesn’t give it up, she should be admonished a second and a third time. If she gives up this matter, it’s fine. If not, this rule is a saṅghādisesa after three admonishments.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” means someone like Thullanandā bhikkhunī. If she resentfully and irrationally slanders the sangha, is admonished three times in a secluded place, and doesn’t give it up, for each admonishment she breaks a minor vinaya rule. Among a few people is also the same. Within the sangha, during the first admonishment, she also breaks a minor vinaya rule. When the admonishment is over, it’s a thullaccaya. During the second admonishment, she also 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 saṅghādisesa. When she has broken the saṅghādisesa, all minor vinaya breaches and thullaccayas from the secluded place, from among a few people, and from within the sangha—except for the eight thullaccayas for slandering the sangha—are cleared with the saṅghādisesa procedure. If she stops in between, then they should be dealt with according to the point where she stopped. This is what the World-honored One said.