Suspension 16

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, there were two bhikkhunīs, one called Dhammā, and the other called Tánmí. With the same intentions, they engaged in unwholesome actions together, had a bad reputation, always annoyed the bhikkhunī sangha, and covered up each other’s offenses.

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 them with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called bhikkhunīs when you, with the same intentions, engage in unwholesome actions together, have a bad reputation, always annoy the bhikkhunī sangha, and cover up each other’s offenses?” Having criticized them 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 Dhammā and Tánmí bhikkhunīs: “Did you really do this?” They answered: “We really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha criticized them with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called bhikkhunīs when you, with the same intentions, engage in unwholesome actions together, have a bad reputation, always annoy the bhikkhunī sangha, and cover up each other’s offenses?” Having criticized them 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 two bhikkhunīs, with the same intentions, engage in unwholesome actions together, have a bad reputation, always annoy the bhikkhunī sangha, and cover up each other’s offenses, the bhikkhunīs should admonish those two bhikkhunīs: “Don’t, with the same intentions, engage in unwholesome actions together, have a bad reputation, always annoy the bhikkhunī sangha, and cover up each other’s offenses. You both should practise separately. If you practise separately, you’ll attain growth in the Buddha’s dhamma. Give up following this bad conduct.” When the two bhikkhunīs are admonished by the other bhikkhunīs in this way, and they hold firmly on to this matter and don’t give it up, the bhikkhunīs should admonish them a second and a third time to make them give up this matter. If they give it up at the second or third admonishment, it’s fine. If not, that act constitutes a saṅghādisesa after three admonishments, from which one can repent.’”

Explanations

“Two bhikkhunīs engaging in unwholesome actions” means they do unwholesome, wrong things, and unwholesome actions by body or speech.

“Having a bad reputation” means heard and known in all directions.

“Annoying the bhikkhunī sangha” means down to annoying four bhikkhunīs.

“Covering up each other’s offenses” means doing impure things together, and each covering and hiding the other one’s, so as not to let people know.

“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 two bhikkhunīs, with the same intentions, create unwholesome causes together, it’s a thullaccaya. If they’ve a bad reputation, it’s a thullaccaya. If they annoy the bhikkhunī sangha, it’s a thullaccaya. If they cover up each other’s offenses, it’s a thullaccaya. The bhikkhunīs should first admonish them with gentle speech to give up this matter. If they give it up, they should instruct them to confess four thullaccayas to clear the offenses. If they don’t give it up with gentle speech, they should admonish them in a formal act with a motion as fourth. The procedure for the formal act is as follows:

Saṅghakamma

When the sangha is unanimous and harmonious, one bhikkhunī should announce in the sangha: “Venerable bhikkhunīs, may the sangha listen. Those two bhikkhunīs Dhammā and Tánmí, with the same intentions, engage in unwholesome actions together, have a bad reputation, always annoy the sangha, and cover up each other’s offenses. Having been admonished with gentle speech, they didn’t give it up. If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha approve that the sangha now admonishes those two bhikkhunīs: ‘Don’t, with the same intentions, engage in unwholesome actions together, have a bad reputation, always annoy the bhikkhunī sangha, and cover up each other’s offenses.’ This is called the motion.” Likewise for the formal act with a motion as fourth. “The sangha has admonished them. The sangha accepts this, therefore you’re silent. This matter is remembered thus.”

Explanations (continued)

As the Buddha explained earlier, those bhikkhunīs should be admonished by the bhikkhunīs up to three times to make them give up this matter. This is called the admonishment, this is called the instruction, this is called the admonishment and instruction. If they don’t give it up when being admonished with gentle speech, the offense isn’t committed yet. If when admonished, they don’t give it up when the first announcement isn’t finished yet, when it’s finished, when the second announcement isn’t finished yet, when it’s finished, when the third announcement isn’t finished yet, if it’s against the dhamma in a divided assembly, if it’s against the dhamma in a harmonious assembly, if it resembles the dhamma in a divided assembly, if it resembles the dhamma in a harmonious assembly, if it’s according to dhamma in a divided assembly, or if it’s according to a different dhamma, a different vinaya, and a different Buddha’s instruction, the offense isn’t committed yet. If it’s according to dhamma, according to vinaya, according to the Buddha’s instruction, and they don’t give it up at the third admonishment, those bhikkhunīs commit a saṅghādisesa. (End of rule 16.)