Expulsion 8

The 8th training precept: A suspended person.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then there was a bhikkhu named Root, against whom the harmonious sangha had carried out a formal act of suspension, and the bhikkhunī sangha had also carried out the procedure of not-paying-respect. As explained in detail, down to: That bhikkhu wanted to show respect to the sangha and ask to be released. Thullanandā bhikkhunī saw him and said: “Noble one, I now express my respect to you. Where do you want to go?” He replied: “I’ve been suspended. I now want to ask the sangha to show compassion to me.” Thullā bhikkhunī said: “Noble one, you’ve gone forth from the Sakya clan. Why bother seeking to apologize to them? Whatever requisites you need, I’ll provide them. Be at ease, and just recite suttas as you like.” … They told the Buddha of this matter, and the Buddha said to the bhikkhunīs: “Please admonish Thullanandā bhikkhunī: ‘How could you not know that the sangha has carried out a formal act of suspension against this person, and that the bhikkhunīs have carried out the procedure of not-paying-respect? But you still provide robes, bowls, and other items with nothing lacking. Give up this matter of following a suspended one now.’” When the bhikkhunīs admonished her like this, she held firmly on to it and didn’t give it up. They told the Buddha of this matter, and the Buddha said to the bhikkhunīs : “You should carry out a formal act with a motion as fourth against Thullanandā.” They did it as instructed, to be remembered as below. She held on to it and didn’t give it up. … The World-honored One asked if it was true, criticized her, (and said): “I’ll lay down another training precept. You should recite it like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī knows that a harmonious sangha has carried out a formal act of suspension against a bhikkhu, that the bhikkhunī sangha has also carried out the procedure of not-paying-respect, and that that bhikkhu shows respect to the sangha, wants to be released, and asks within the territory to have the suspension procedure lifted, but that bhikkhunī replies to that bhikkhu: “Noble one, don’t show respect to the sangha, seek to be released, and ask within the territory to have the suspension procedure lifted. I’ll provide robes, bowls, and other requisites to the noble one with nothing lacking. Please be at ease and just recite suttas as you like”, then the bhikkhunīs should say to that bhikkhunī: “How could you not know that the sangha has carried out a formal act of suspension against this person, and that the bhikkhunīs have carried out the procedure of not-paying-respect? That bhikkhu has humbled himself and asked within the territory to have the suspension procedure lifted. But you still provide robes, bowls, and other items with nothing lacking. Give up this matter of following him now.” When the bhikkhunīs admonish her like this, and she gives it up, it’s fine. If not, they should again admonish her earnestly and correctly three times. They should reprove her according to the instructions to make her give up this matter. If she gives it up, it’s fine. If not, that bhikkhunī incurs a pārājika, and shouldn’t live in community.’”

Explanations

“A bhikkhunī” means Thullanandā, or any other bhikkhunī.

“Knowing that a bhikkhu” means a bhikkhu in this dhamma.

“The harmonious sangha” means the disciples of the Buddha.

“Carrying out a formal act of suspension” means doing it with a motion as fourth. To be understood as in the text. The rest is as above.

Herein, what are the factors for committing this offense? If a bhikkhunī knows that the bhikkhu sangha has carried out a formal act of suspension, and that the bhikkhunī sangha has also carried out the procedure of not-paying-respect, then when they address her as above, she incurs a dukkaṭa offense each time. If when they admonish her, she gives it up, it’s fine. If not, she incurs a thullaccaya offense. From when they do the first motion, to the first and second announcement, she also incurs thullaccayas. If she gives it up before the third announcement is finished, she also incurs a thullaccaya. If it’s finished, she commits the pārājika offense.

“Venerables, I’ve recited the eight pārājika rules. If a bhikkhunī commits any of these, she may not live together with the other bhikkhunīs. As before, so after. She incurs a pārājika, and shouldn’t live in community. Now I ask the venerables: ‘Are you pure herein?’” (She speaks like this three times.) “The venerables are pure herein, therefore you’re silent. I now remember it like this.”