Suspension 17

Origin Story

At that time, Chandasumanā bhikkhunī often quarreled with others, and when the sangha had settled matters, she angrily said: “I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the dhamma, I renounce the sangha. I renounce the precepts and will become a non-Buddhist renunciate. Other renunciates and brahmins also train in precepts and are conscientious. I’ll practise the monastic life in purity with them.” The bhikkhunīs said: “Don’t often quarrel with others, and don’t say: ‘I renounce the Buddha, … practise the monastic life in purity with them.’ Why? Other renunciates and brahmins don’t train in precepts and aren’t conscientious. How would you be able to practise the monastic life with them? Give up this wrong view. You’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma and live comfortably.” When she was admonished like this, she held firmly on to it and didn’t give it up. … “I now lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs, as explained above. From now on, this precept should be recited thus:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī often quarrels with others, and when the sangha has settled matters, says: “I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the dhamma, I renounce the sangha. I renounce the precepts and will become a non-Buddhist renunciate. Other renunciates and brahmins also train in precepts and are conscientious. I’ll practise the monastic life in purity with them,” the bhikkhunīs should say: “Don’t often quarrel with others, and don’t say: ‘I renounce the Buddha, the dhamma, and the sangha.’ Why? Other renunciates and brahmins don’t train in precepts and aren’t conscientious. How would you be able to practise the monastic life with them? Give up this wrong view. You’ll grow in the Buddha’s dhamma and live comfortably.” If she, when admonished like this, holds firmly on to it and doesn’t give it up, they should admonish her a second and a third time. If she gives up this matter at the second or third admonishment, it’s fine. If not, that bhikkhunī commits a saṅghādisesa after three admonishments, from which one can repent.’”

Explanations

The remainder is as explained above. (End of the saṅghādisesas.)

Mahīśāsaka Vinaya, end of fascicle 11.