Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on garlic

The training rule on raw grain

Origin story

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

it was the harvest season. At that time the nuns had asked for raw grain, which they then carried to town. At the town gate they were detained and told,

“Venerables, give a share.”

After being released,

they went to the nuns’ dwelling place and told the nuns what had happened.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“How could nuns ask for raw grain?” …

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

“It’s true, Sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them,

“How could nuns do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

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

Final ruling

‘If a nun asks for or has someone else ask for raw grain, or she roasts it or has it roasted, or she pounds it or has it pounded, or she cooks it or has it cooked, and she then eats it, 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.

Raw grain:

rice, barley, wheat, millet, wild gram, kodo millet.

Asks for:

she asks herself.

Has someone ask for:

she gets someone else to ask.

Roasts:

she roasts it herself.

Has it roasted:

she gets someone else to roast it.

Pounds:

she pounds it herself.

Has it pounded:

she gets someone else to pound it.

Cooks:

she cooks it herself.

Has it cooked:

she gets someone else to cook it.

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.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if she does it because she is sick;

if she asks for vegetables;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The seventh training rule is finished.