Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on nakedness

The training rule on sewing robes

Origin story

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

At that time a robe belonging to a certain nun had been badly made and badly sewn from expensive robe-cloth.

The nun Thullanandā said to her,

“Venerable, this robe-cloth is beautiful,

but the robe has been badly made and badly sewn.”

“If I unstitch it, will you sew it back together?”

“Sure.”

Then that nun unstitched the robe and gave it to Thullanandā.

Yet although Thullanandā

repeatedly said she would sew it, she neither sewed it herself nor did she make any effort to have someone else do it.

That nun then told the nuns what had happened.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized Thullanandā,

“How could Venerable Thullanandā have a nun’s robe unstitched, and then neither sew it herself nor make any effort to have someone else do it?” …

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

“It’s true, Sir.”

The Buddha rebuked her …

“How could the nun Thullanandā act like this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

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

Final ruling

‘If a nun, after unstitching a nun’s robe or having it unstitched, neither sews it herself nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it, and there were no obstacles, then, except if it was no more than four or five days, 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.

A nun’s:

another nun’s.

Robe:

one of the six kinds of robes.

Unstitching:

she unstitches it herself.

Having it unstitched:

she has someone else unstitch it.

And there were no obstacles:

when there is no obstacle.

She neither sews:

she does not sew it herself.

Nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it:

she does not ask anyone else.

Except if it was no more than four or five days:

unless it was no more than four or five days.

If she thinks, “I’ll neither sew it nor make any effort to have someone else sew it,” then by the mere fact of abandoning her duty, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If the other person is fully ordained, and she perceives her as such, and she unstitches her robe or has it unstitched, and then neither sews it herself nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it, and there were no obstacles, then, except if it was no more than four or five days, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If the other person is fully ordained, but she is unsure of it, and she unstitches her robe or has it unstitched, and then neither sews it herself nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it, and there were no obstacles, then, except if it was no more than four or five days, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If the other person is fully ordained, but she does not perceive her as such, and she unstitches her robe or has it unstitched, and then neither sews it herself nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it, and there were no obstacles, then, except if it was no more than four or five days, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she unstitches another requisite or has it unstitched, and then neither sews it herself nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it, and there were no obstacles, then, except if it was no more than four or five days, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the other person is not fully ordained, and she unstitches her robe or another requisite, or has it unstitched, and then neither sews it herself nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it, and there were no obstacles, then, except if it was no more than four or five days, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the other person is not fully ordained, but she perceives her as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the other person is not fully ordained, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the other person is not fully ordained, and she does not perceive her as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if there is an obstacle;

if she searches for someone to sew, but does not find anyone;

if she is doing it, but she takes longer than four or five days;

if she is sick;

if there is an emergency;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The third training rule is finished.