Suspension 9

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Kosambī. At that time, the venerable Channa’s mother became a bhikkhunī called Upava(nā)(?). Her younger sister became a bhikkhunī called Chandī(?). Chandī had a bad character towards people, engaged in unvirtuous conduct, and always annoyed the other bhikkhunīs. The bhikkhunīs wanted to carry out a formal act of expulsion against Chandī. Upavanā was the sangha offical for settling matters, and blocked it in the sangha, so they weren’t able to carry out the formal act. There was a time when Upavanā went somewhere else and wasn’t there, and the bhikkhunīs said: “Let’s now carry out a formal act of expulsion against Chandī bhikkhunī.” Some bhikkhunīs said: “Upavanā might be able to block it midway.” And other bhikkhunīs said: “Upavanā has gone to another place where she has many friends. She won’t be able to return quickly.”

The bhikkhunīs then struck the bell to gather the bhikkhunī sangha, and carried out a formal act of expulsion against Chandī. The next day, many people heard that Chandī bhikkhunī had been expelled. Upavanā bhikkhunī returned to her younger sister and they greeted each other. Chandī said: “Don’t talk to me.” She asked: “Why?” She answered: “The bhikkhunīs did a formal act to expel me.” Upavanā thought: “This matter is inacceptable. I’m the sangha offical for settling matters, and when I’m not here, they forcefully carry out an expulsion. Now I’m unable to ask the bhikkhunīs, and won’t obtain their consent, but I’ll leave the territory and release her from the expulsion.” Then Upavanā didn’t ask the bhikkhunīs, didn’t obtain consent, and left the territory to release Chandī from the expulsion.

Among the bhikkhunīs were those of few wishes, who knew moderation and practised the austerities. When they heard of this matter, their minds weren’t pleased, and they criticized her with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called a bhikkhunī when you know that the harmonious bhikkhunī sangha carried out a formal act according to dhamma to expel a bhikkhunī, and without asking the bhikkhunī sangha, without obtaining the bhikkhunīs’ consent, you leave the territory to release her from the expulsion?” Having criticized her with all kinds of reasons, they explained it to the Buddha in detail. The Buddha gathered both sanghas because of this matter. He knew, and intentionally asked Upavanā bhikkhunī: “Did you really do this?” She answered: “I really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha criticized her with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called a bhikkhunī when you know that the bhikkhunī sangha carried out an expulsion according to dhamma, and without asking the bhikkhunī sangha, without obtaining their consent, you leave the territory to release the bhikkhunī from the expulsion?” Having criticized her with all kinds of reasons, he said to the bhikkhus: “For 10 benefits, I’ll lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs. From now on, this precept should be recited thus:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī knows that the harmonious bhikkhunī sangha unanimously carried out an expulsion for not seeing (an offense), and without asking the bhikkhunī sangha, without obtaining their consent, she leaves the territory to release her from the expulsion, that act is an immediate saṅghādisesa, from which one can repent.’”

Explanations

“Knowing” means she either knows herself, or hears it from others, or the (expelled bhikkhunī) tells her herself.

“According to dhamma” means an expulsion according to dhamma, according to vinaya, according to the Buddha’s instruction.

“Without asking the bhikkhunī sangha” means without speaking to the bhikkhunī sangha about this matter.

“Without obtaining consent” means not even obtaining four people’s consent.

“Leaving the territory” means outside the sangha’s fence, wall, or partition.

“Releasing from the expulsion” means she releases her herself, or has others release her.

“A saṅghādisesa” means this offense is dependent upon the sangha, and in the sangha there’s a remainder. Because she confesses and clears it in front of the sangha, therefore it’s called a saṅghādisesa.

Herein, this is an offense: If the preceptor I’m not sure why the rule mentions a preceptor, since it isn’t about ordination. It might refer to the most senior bhikkhunī, or just be a mistake.* knows, the master of ceremony knows, and the sangha knows, the preceptor commits a saṅghādisesa, the master of ceremony commits a thullaccaya, and the sangha commits a dukkaṭa. If the preceptor knows, the master of ceremony knows, but the sangha doesn’t know, the preceptor commits a saṅghādisesa, the master of ceremony commits a thullaccaya, and the sangha doesn’t commit an offense. If the preceptor knows, but the master of ceremony doesn’t know, and the sangha doesn’t know, the preceptor commits a saṅghādisesa, and the master of ceremony and the sangha don’t commit an offense. If they all don’t know, the offense isn’t committed. (End of rule 9.)