Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on the dark of the night

The training rule on sitting down without asking permission

Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

At that time the nun Thullanandā visited families after the meal, and she sat down and lay down on the seats without asking permission of the owners.

Because of Thullanandā, the people there had qualms, neither sitting nor lying down.

They then complained and criticized her,

“How could Venerable Thullanandā visit families after the meal, and then sit down and lie down on the seats without asking the owners for permission?”

The nuns heard the complaints of those people.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,

“How could Venerable Thullanandā act in this way?” …

“Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?”

“It’s true, Sir.”

The Buddha rebuked her …

“How could the nun Thullanandā act in this way?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

‘If a nun visits families after the meal, and then sits down or lies down on a seat without asking permission of the owners, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A:

whoever …

Nun:

… The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case.

After the meal:

when the middle of the day has passed, until sunset.

A family:

there are four kinds of families: the aristocratic family, the brahmin family, the merchant family, the worker family.

Visits:

goes there.

Without asking permission of the owners:

not having asked permission of a person in that family who is an owner and who has the authority to give.

A seat:

a place for sitting cross-legged is what is meant.

Sits down:

if she sits down on that seat, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Lies down:

if she lies down on that seat, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If she has not asked permission, and she does not perceive that she has, and she sits down or lies down on a seat, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she has not asked permission, but she is unsure of it, and she sits down or lies down on a seat, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she has not asked permission, but she perceives that she has, and she sits down or lies down on a seat, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If it is not a place for sitting cross-legged, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If she has asked permission, but she does not perceive that she has, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If she has asked permission, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If she has asked permission, and she perceives that she has, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if she sits down or lies down after asking permission;

if a dedicated seat is permanently ready for her;

if she is sick;

if there is an emergency;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The sixth training rule is finished.