Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on lying down

The training rule on not having someone nursed

Origin story

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

At that time a disciple of the nun Thullanandā was suffering, but Thullanandā neither nursed her nor made any effort to have someone else nurse her.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,

“How could Venerable Thullanandā not nurse a suffering disciple, nor make any effort to have someone else nurse her?” …

“Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā didn’t do this?”

“It’s true, Sir.”

The Buddha rebuked her …

“How could the nun Thullanandā not do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

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

Final ruling

‘If a nun neither nurses a suffering disciple, nor makes any effort to have someone else nurse her, 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.

Suffering:

sick is what is meant.

Disciple:

a student is what is meant.

Neither nurses:

does not herself nurse her.

Nor makes any effort to have someone else nurse her:

she does not ask anyone else.

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

If she neither nurses nor makes any effort to have someone else nurse a pupil or one who is not fully ordained, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if there is an obstacle;

if she searches but does not find a nurse;

if she is sick;

if there is an emergency;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The fourth training rule is finished.