Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on monasteries

The training rule on inviting

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,

a certain brahmin had invited the nuns for a meal.

When the nuns had finished and refused an invitation to eat more, they went to their respective families, where some ate and others got almsfood and left.

Soon afterwards that brahmin said this to his neighbors,

“I have satisfied the nuns. Come, and I’ll satisfy you, too.”

“How could you satisfy us?

Those nuns who were invited by you came to our houses, where some ate and others got almsfood and left.”

That brahmin complained and criticized those nuns,

“How could they eat in our house and afterwards eat elsewhere? Am I not able to give them as much as they want?”

The nuns heard the complaints of that brahmin,

and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“How could nuns finish their meal, refuse an invitation to eat more, and then eat elsewhere?” …

“Is it true, monks, that nuns did this?”

“It’s true, Sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them …

“How could nuns 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, who has been invited to a meal, refuses an invitation to eat more, and then eats fresh or cooked food, 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.

Refuses an offer to eat more:

refuses an offer to eat any of the five cooked foods.

Refuses an invitation to eat more:

eating is seen, cooked food is seen, it is brought forward within arm’s reach, a refusal is seen.

Fresh food:

apart from the five cooked foods, congee, the post-midday tonics, the seven-day tonics, and the lifetime tonics,

the rest is called “fresh food”.

Cooked food:

there are five kinds of cooked food: cooked grain, porridge, flour products, fish, and meat.

If she receives it with the intention of eating it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

For every mouthful, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If she has refused an offer, and she perceives that she has, and she eats fresh or cooked food, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she has refused an offer, but she is unsure of it, and she eats fresh or cooked food, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she has refused an offer, but she does not perceive that she has, and she eats fresh or cooked food, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she receives post-midday tonics, seven-day tonics, or lifetime tonics for the purpose of food, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

For every mouthful, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. …

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if she has refused an offer to eat more, but not an invitation;

if she drinks congee;

if she eats more after getting permission from the person who invited her;

if, when there is a reason, she uses post-midday tonics, seven-day tonics, or lifetime tonics;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The fourth training rule is finished.