The nuns’ rules (PLI-TV-BI-PM)

The nuns’ rules

Preliminaries

Sweeping and lamps, setting up of water and seats;

these are to be done before the observance-day ceremony.

Preliminary duties

Consent, purity, knowing the season, and counting the nuns, instruction;

these are called the preliminary duties of the observance-day ceremony.

The factors of readiness

It is the observance day, all the nuns who should be present have arrived,

there are no shared offenses,

and there is no one there who should not be present. This is called readiness.

“Having completed the duties to be done beforehand and the preliminary duties, with the assent of the nuns’ community, one and all, with offenses confessed, I invite the recitation of the Monastic Code.”¹

The recitation of the introduction

“Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.²

Today is the observance day, the fifteenth.

If the Sangha is ready, it should do the observance-day ceremony, it should recite the Monastic Code.

What is the preliminary duty of the Sangha?

The venerables should declare their purity.

I will recite the Monastic Code.

Everyone present should listen to it and attend carefully.

Anyone who has committed an offense should reveal it.

If you haven’t committed any offense, you should remain silent.

If you are silent, I will regard you as pure.

Just as one responds when asked individually, so too, an announcement is made three times in this kind of gathering.

If a nun remembers an offense while the announcement is being made up to the third time, but doesn’t reveal it, she is lying in full awareness.

Lying in full awareness is called an obstacle by the Buddha.

A nun who remembers an offense and is seeking purification should therefore reveal it.

When it’s revealed, she will be at ease.

Venerables, the introduction has been recited.

In regard to this I ask you, ‘Are you pure in this?’

A second time I ask, ‘Are you pure in this?’

A third time I ask, ‘Are you pure in this?’

You are pure in this and therefore silent. I will remember it thus.³

The introduction is finished.

The recitation of the rules on expulsion

These eight rules on expulsion come up for recitation.

Expulsion 1: sexual intercourse

If a nun willingly has sexual intercourse, even with a male animal, she is expelled and excluded from the community.⁴

Expulsion 2: stealing

If a nun, intending to steal, takes from an inhabited area or from the wilderness what has not been given to her—

the sort of stealing for which kings, having caught a thief, would beat, imprison, or banish her, saying, ‘You’re a bandit, you’re a fool, you’ve gone astray, you’re a thief’—

she too is expelled and excluded from the community.

Expulsion 3: killing a human being

If a nun intentionally kills a human being or seeks an instrument of death for them or praises death or incites someone to die, saying,

‘My friend, what’s the point of this miserable and difficult life? Death is better for you than life!’—

thinking and intending thus, if she praises death in many ways or incites someone to die—

she too is expelled and excluded from the community.

Expulsion 4: falsely claiming a superhuman quality

If a nun falsely claims for herself a superhuman quality, a knowledge and vision worthy of the noble ones, saying, ‘This I know, this I see,’

but after some time—whether she is questioned or not, but having committed the offense and seeking purification—should say: ‘Not knowing I said that I know, not seeing that I see; what I said was empty and false,’ then,

except if it is due to overestimation,

she too is expelled and excluded from the community.

Expulsion 5: physical contact with a man

If a lustful nun consents to a lustful man making physical contact with her, to touching her, to taking hold of her, to contacting her, or to squeezing her, anywhere below the collar bone but above the knees, she too is expelled and excluded from the community. The training rule on above the knees.

Expulsion 6: concealing an expulsion offense

If a nun knows that a nun has committed an offense entailing expulsion, but she neither confronts her herself nor tells the community, and afterward—whether that nun remains or has died or has been expelled or has converted—she says, ‘Venerables, although I previously knew that this nun was like this, I thought, “I will neither confront her myself nor tell the community,”’ she too is expelled and excluded from the community. The training rule on those who conceal offenses.

Expulsion 7: siding with an ejected monk

If a nun takes sides with a monk who has been ejected by a unanimous Sangha—in accordance with the Teaching, the Monastic Law, and the Teacher’s instruction—and who is disrespectful, who has not made amends, and who has not made friends, the nuns should correct her like this:

‘Venerable, this monk has been ejected by a unanimous Sangha in accordance with the Teaching, the Monastic Law, and the Teacher’s instruction. He’s disrespectful, hasn’t made amends, and hasn’t made friends. Venerable, don’t take sides with this monk.’

If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop.

If she then stops, all is well.

If she does not stop, she too is expelled and excluded from the community. The training rule on taking sides with one who has been ejected.

Expulsion 8: behaving inappropriately in eight ways

If, for the purpose of indulging in inappropriate sexual conduct, a lustful nun consents to a lustful man holding her hand and the edge of her robe, and she stands with him and chats with him and goes to a rendezvous with him and consents to him coming to her and enters a covered place with him and disposes her body for him for that purpose, she too is expelled and excluded from the community. The training rule having eight parts.

Venerables, the eight rules on expulsion have been recited.

If a nun commits any one of them, she is no longer part of the community of nuns.

As before, so after: she’s expelled and excluded from the community.

In regard to this I ask you, ‘Are you pure in this?’

A second time I ask, ‘Are you pure in this?’

A third time I ask, ‘Are you pure in this?’

You are pure in this and therefore silent. I will remember it thus.

The offenses entailing expulsion are finished.

The recitation of the rules of suspension

Venerables, these seventeen rules on suspension come up for recitation.

Suspension 1: taking legal action

If a nun takes legal action against a householder or a householder’s offspring or a slave or a worker or even toward a monastic or a wanderer, then that nun has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 2: ordaining a criminal

If a nun, without getting permission from the king or the Sangha or a community or an association or a society, knowingly gives the full admission to a female criminal who is known as sentenced to death, then, except when it is allowable, that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 3: being alone

If a nun walks to the next inhabited area by herself or crosses a river by herself or spends the night apart by herself or lags behind her companions by herself, then that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 4: readmitting an ejected nun

If a nun, without getting permission from the Sangha that did the legal procedure and without the consent of the community, readmits a nun who has been ejected by a unanimous Sangha in accordance with the Teaching and the Monastic Law and the Teacher’s instruction, then that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 5: receiving food with lust

If a lustful nun eats fresh or cooked food after receiving it directly from a lustful man, then that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 6: encouraging a nun to receive food from a man with lust

If a nun says, ‘Venerable, what can this man do to you, whether he has lust or not, if you’re without? Go on, venerable, receive it with your own hands and then eat whatever fresh or cooked food he gives you,’ then that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 7: matchmaking

If a nun acts as a matchmaker, conveying a man’s intention to a woman or a woman’s intention to a man, for marriage or for an affair, even if just a brief one, then that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 8: making a groundless accusation out of anger

If a nun who is angry and displeased groundlessly charges a nun with an offense entailing expulsion, aiming to make her leave the monastic life,

and then after some time, whether she is questioned or not, it is clear that the legal issue is groundless, and she admits to her ill will, then that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 9: making a groundless accusation out of anger, using a pretext

If a nun who is angry and displeased, uses an unrelated legal issue as a pretext to charge a nun with an offense entailing expulsion, aiming to make her leave the monastic life,

and then after some time, whether she is questioned or not, it is clear that the legal issue is unrelated and was used as a pretext, and she admits to her ill will, then that nun too has committed an immediate offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 10: renouncing the training in anger

If a nun says in anger,

‘I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Teaching, I renounce the Sangha, I renounce the training! The Sakyan daughters are not the only monastics. There are other monastics who have a sense of conscience, who are afraid of wrongdoing and fond of the training. I’ll practice the spiritual life with them,’

then the nuns should correct her like this:

‘Venerable, don’t say such things in anger, “I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Teaching, I renounce the Sangha, I renounce the training! The Sakyan daughters are not the only monastics. There are other monastics who have a sense of conscience, who are afraid of wrongdoing and fond of the training. I’ll practice the spiritual life with them.” Take delight, venerable; the Teaching is well proclaimed. Practice the spiritual life for the complete ending of suffering.’

If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop.

If she then stops, all is well.

If she does not stop, then after the third announcement that nun too has committed an offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 11: accusing nuns of acting from bias

If a nun is angry because she has had a legal issue decided against her, saying,

‘The nuns are acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear,’ then the nuns should correct her like this:

‘Venerable, just because you’re angry that you’ve had a legal issue decided against you, don’t say, “The nuns are acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear.”

Perhaps it’s you who are acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear.’

If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop.

If she then stops, all is well.

If she does not stop, then after the third announcement that nun too has committed an offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 12: inappropriate socializing

If nuns socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses,

then the nuns should correct them like this:

‘Sisters, you socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses.

Be secluded, venerables. The Sangha praises seclusion for the sisters.’

If those nuns continue as before, the nuns should press them up to three times to make them stop.

If they then stop, all is well.

If they do not stop, then after the third announcement those nuns too have committed an offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 13: encouraging inappropriate socializing

If a nun says,

‘Venerables, you should socialize. Don’t live separately.

There are other nuns in the Sangha who have such behavior, reputation, and notoriety, and who harass the Sangha of nuns and hide each other’s offenses. The Sangha says nothing to them.

It’s because of disrespect, contempt, impatience, and slander, and because you are weak that the Sangha says to you, “Sisters, you socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. Be secluded, venerables. The Sangha praises seclusion for the sisters,”’

then the nuns should correct her like this:

‘Venerable, don’t say such things:

“Venerables, you should socialize. Don’t live separately.

There are other nuns in the Sangha who have such behavior, reputation, and notoriety, and who harass the Sangha of nuns and hide each other’s offenses. The Sangha says nothing to them.

It’s because of disrespect, contempt, impatience, and slander, and because you are weak that the Sangha says to you, ‘Sisters, you socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. Be secluded, venerables. The Sangha praises seclusion for the sisters,’”’

If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop.

If she then stops, all is well.

If she does not stop, then after the third announcement that nun too has committed an offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 14: causing a schism in the Sangha

If a nun pursues schism in a united Sangha or persists in taking up a legal issue conducive to schism, the nuns should correct her like this:

‘Venerable, don’t pursue schism in the united Sangha or persist in taking up a legal issue conducive to schism.

Stay with the Sangha, for a united Sangha—in concord, in harmony, having a joint recitation—is at ease.’

If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop.

If she then stops, all is well.

If she does not stop, then after the third announcement that nun too has committed an offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 15: siding with a schismatic

That nun may have one, two, or three nuns who side with her and support her, and they may say,

‘Venerables, don’t correct this nun.

She speaks in accordance with the Teaching and the training.

And she speaks with our consent and approval. She knows about us and speaks for us, and we approve of this.’

The nuns should correct those nuns like this:

‘No, venerables,

this nun speaks contrary to the Teaching and the training.

And don’t consent to schism in the Sangha.

Stay with the Sangha, for a united Sangha—in concord, in harmony, having a joint recitation—is at ease.’

If those nuns continue as before, the nuns should press them up to three times to make them stop.

If they then stop, all is well.

If they do not stop, then after the third announcement those nuns too have committed an offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 16: being difficult to correct

If a nun is difficult to correct, and she makes herself incorrigible when legitimately corrected by the nuns concerning the training rules that are recited, saying,

‘Venerables, don’t say anything to me, either good or bad, and I won’t say anything to you, either good or bad.

Please refrain from correcting me,’

then the nuns should correct her like this:

‘Be easy to correct, venerable, not incorrigible.

And please give legitimate correction to the nuns, and the nuns will do the same to you.

For it’s in this way that the Buddha’s community has grown, that is, through mutual correction and mutual clearing of offenses.’

If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop.

If she then stops, all is well.

If she does not stop, then after the third announcement that nun too has committed an offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Suspension 17: being a corrupter of families

If a nun who lives supported by a village or town is a corrupter of families and badly behaved, and her bad behavior has been seen and heard about, and the families corrupted by her have been seen and heard about,

then the nuns should correct her like this:

‘Venerable, you’re a corrupter of families and badly behaved. Your bad behavior has been seen and heard about, and the families corrupted by you have been seen and heard about. Leave this monastery; you’ve stayed here long enough.’

If she replies,

‘You’re acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear. Because of this sort of offense, you only banish some, but not others,’

then the nuns should correct her like this:

‘No, venerable, the nuns are not acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear.

Venerable, you’re a corrupter of families and badly behaved. Your bad behavior has been seen and heard about, and the families corrupted by you have been seen and heard about. Leave this monastery; you’ve stayed here long enough.’

If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop.

If she then stops, all is well.

If she does not stop, then after the third announcement that nun too has committed an offense entailing sending away and suspension.

Venerables, the seventeen rules on suspension have been recited, nine being immediate offenses, eight after the third announcement.

If a nun commits any one of them, she must undertake the trial period for a half-month toward both Sanghas.

When this is completed, she is to be rehabilitated wherever there is a sangha of at least twenty nuns.

If that nun is rehabilitated by a sangha of nuns of even one less than twenty, that nun is not rehabilitated and those nuns are blameworthy. This is the proper procedure.

In regard to this I ask you, ‘Are you pure in this?’

A second time I ask, ‘Are you pure in this?’

A third time I ask, ‘Are you pure in this?’

You are pure in this and therefore silent. I will remember it thus.

The chapter on offenses entailing suspension is finished.

The rules of relinquishment and confession

Venerables, these thirty rules on relinquishment and confession come up for recitation.

The subchapter on almsbowls

Relinquishment and confession 1: collecting almsbowls

If a nun collects almsbowls, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 2: distributing out-of-season robe-cloth

If a nun determines out-of-season robe-cloth as ‘in-season’, and then distributes it, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 3: taking back a traded robe

If a nun trades robes with a nun and then says, ‘Here’s your robe; give me that robe of mine. That which is yours is yours, and that which is mine is mine. Give me that, and take back what’s yours;’ and she just takes it or has it taken, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 4: asking for something else

If a nun asks for one thing and then for something else, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 5: exchanging for something else

If a nun gets one thing in exchange and then something else, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 6: exchanging designated Sangha property

When a requisite belonging to the Sangha is designated for a specific purpose, if a nun exchanges it for something else, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 7: exchanging designated Sangha property that was asked for

When a requisite belonging to the Sangha is designated for a specific purpose and was asked for, if a nun exchanges it for something else, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 8: exchanging designated collective property

When a collective requisite is designated for a specific purpose, if a nun exchanges it for something else, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 9: exchanging designated collective property that was asked for

When a collective requisite is designated for a specific purpose and was asked for, if a nun exchanges it for something else, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 10: exchanging designated personal property that was asked for

When a personal requisite is designated for a specific purpose and was asked for, if a nun exchanges it for something else, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

The first subchapter on almsbowls is finished.

The subchapter on robes

Relinquishment and confession 11: getting an expensive heavy cloak in exchange

If a nun carries out an exchange to get a heavy cloak, it is to be worth at most four kaṁsa coins. If she gets one in exchange that is worth more than that, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 12: getting an expensive light cloak in exchange

If a nun carries out an exchange to get a light cloak, it is to be worth at most two-and-a-half kaṁsa coins. If she gets one in exchange that is worth more than that, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 13: keeping extra robe-cloth beyond ten days

When her robe is finished and the robe season has ended, a nun should keep an extra robe for ten days at the most.

If she keeps it longer than that, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 14: staying apart from one’s robes

When her robe is finished and the robe season has ended, if a nun stays apart from her three robes even for a single day, except if the nuns have agreed, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 15: keeping extra robe-cloth beyond a month

When her robe is finished and the robe season has ended, if out-of-season robe-cloth is offered to a nun, she may receive it if she wishes.

If she receives it, she should quickly make a robe.

If there is not enough cloth, but she is expecting more, she should keep it at most one month to make up the lack.

If she keeps it longer than that, then even if she expects more cloth, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 16: asking an unrelated person for a robe

If a nun asks an unrelated male or female householder for a robe, except on an appropriate occasion, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

These are the appropriate occasions: her robes are stolen or her robes are lost.

Relinquishment and confession 17: accepting too many robes

If an unrelated male or female householder invites that nun to take many robes, she should accept at most one sarong and one upper robe.

If she accepts more than that, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 18: requesting a fine robe from a fund

If a male or female householder has set aside a robe fund for an unrelated nun, thinking,

‘With this robe fund I will buy robe-cloth and give it to nun so-and-so;’

and if that nun, without first being invited, goes to them and specifies the kind of robe-cloth she wants, saying,

‘Please use this robe fund to buy such-and-such robe-cloth and then give it to me,’

and she does so because she wants something fine, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 19: requesting a fine robe from a combined fund

If two male or female householders have set aside separate robe funds for an unrelated nun, thinking,

‘With these separate robe funds we’ll buy separate robe-cloths and give them to nun so-and-so;’

and if that nun, without first being invited, goes to them and specifies the kind of robe-cloth she wants, saying,

‘Please put these separate robe funds together to buy such-and-such robe-cloth and then give it to me,’

and she does so because she wants something fine, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 20: excessive prompting to get a robe

If a king, a king’s employee, a brahmin, or a householder sends a robe fund for a nun by messenger, saying,

‘Buy robe-cloth with this robe fund and give it to nun so-and-so,’

and the messenger goes to that nun and says,

‘Venerable, I have brought a robe fund for you. Please receive it,’

then that nun should reply,

‘We don’t receive robe funds, but we do receive allowable robe-cloth at the right time.’

If that messenger says,

‘Is there anyone who provides services for you?’

the nun, if she needs robe-cloth, should point out a monastery worker or a lay follower and say,

‘They provide services for the nuns.’

If the messenger instructs that service provider and then returns to the nun and says,

‘Venerable, I have instructed the service provider you pointed out. Please go to them at the right time and they’ll give you robe-cloth,’

then, if that nun needs robe-cloth, she should go to that service provider and prompt them and remind them two or three times, saying,

‘I need robe-cloth.’

If she then gets robe-cloth, all is well.

If she does not get it, she should stand in silence for it at most six times.

If she then gets robe-cloth, all is well.

If she makes any further effort and then gets robe-cloth, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

If she does not get robe-cloth, she should go to the owners of that robe fund, or send a message, saying,

‘That nun hasn’t received any benefit from the robe fund you sent for her.

Please recover what’s yours, or it might perish.’

This is the proper procedure.

The second subchapter on robes is finished.

The subchapter on almsbowls

Relinquishment and confession 21: becoming the owner of money

If a nun takes, has someone else take, or consents to gold, silver, or money being deposited for her, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 22: trading with money

If a nun engages in various kinds of trades involving money, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 23: bartering

If a nun engages in various kinds of barter, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 24: exchanging an almsbowl with fewer than five mends

If a nun exchanges an almsbowl with fewer than five mends for a new almsbowl, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

That nun should relinquish that almsbowl to a gathering of nuns.

She should then be given the last almsbowl belonging to that gathering:

‘Nun, this bowl is yours. Keep it until it breaks.’ This is the proper procedure.

Relinquishment and confession 25: storing the five tonics too long

After being received, the tonics allowable for sick nuns—that is, ghee, butter, oil, honey, and syrup—should be used from storage for at most seven days.

If one uses them longer than that, one commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 26: taking back robe-cloth in anger

If a nun herself gives a robe to a nun, but then, in anger, takes it back or has it taken back, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 27: asking for thread

If a nun herself asks for thread, and then has weavers weave her robe-cloth, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 28: bribing weavers

If a male or female householder is having robe-cloth woven by weavers for an unrelated nun and, without first being invited, that nun goes to those weavers and specifies the kind of robe-cloth she wants, saying,

‘This robe-cloth that you are weaving for me, make it long and wide; make it closely woven, well-woven, well-stretched, well-scraped, and well-combed,

and perhaps I will even give you a small gift,’

then, in saying that and afterwards giving them a small gift, even a bit of almsfood, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 29: storing haste-cloth too long

When there are ten days left to the Kattika full moon that ends the first rainy-season residence and a haste-cloth is given to a nun, she may receive it if she regards it as urgent. She may then store it until the end of the robe season.

If she stores it beyond that, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

Relinquishment and confession 30: diverting an offering intended for the Sangha

If a nun diverts to herself material support that she knows was intended for the Sangha, she commits an offense entailing relinquishment and confession.

The third subchapter on almsbowls is finished.

Venerables, the thirty rules on relinquishment and confession have been recited.

In regard to this I ask you, ‘Are you pure in this?’

A second time I ask, ‘Are you pure in this?’

A third time I ask, ‘Are you pure in this?’

You are pure in this and therefore silent. I will remember it thus.

The offenses entailing relinquishment and confession are finished.

The rules on confession

Venerables, these one hundred and sixty-six rules on confession come up for recitation.

The subchapter on garlic

Confession 1: eating garlic

If a nun eats garlic, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 2: removing pubic hair

If a nun removes hair from her private parts, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 3: masturbation

If a nun slaps her genitals with the palm of her hand, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 4: using a dildo

If a nun uses a dildo, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 5: intimate washing

If a nun is cleaning herself with water, she may insert two finger joints at the most. If she goes further than that, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 6: attending on a monk

If, when a monk is eating, a nun attends on him with drinking water or a fan, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 7: asking for raw grain

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.

Confession 8: disposing of waste over a wall

If a nun disposes of feces or urine or trash or food scraps over a wall or over an encircling wall, or she has it disposed of in this way, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 9: disposing of waste on plants

If a nun disposes of feces or urine or trash or food scraps on cultivated plants, or she has it disposed of in this way, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 10: watching entertainment

If a nun goes to see dancing or singing or music, she commits an offense entailing confession.

The first subchapter on garlic is finished.

The subchapter on the dark of the night

Confession 11: meeting a man in the dark

If, in the dark of the night without a lamp, a nun stands or talks alone with a man, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 12: meeting a man in a concealed place

If a nun stands or talks alone with a man in a concealed place, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 13: meeting a man in the open

If a nun stands or talks alone with a man out in the open, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 14: meeting a man on a street

If a nun stands or talks alone with a man on a street or in a cul-de-sac or at an intersection, or she whispers in his ear or dismisses her companion nun, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 15: departing without taking leave

If a nun visits families before the meal, sits down on a seat, and then departs without informing the owners, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 16: sitting down without permission

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.

Confession 17: putting out bedding without permission

If a nun visits families at the wrong time, puts out bedding without asking permission of the owners, or has it put out, and then sits down or lies down on it, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 18: complaining without reflection

If a nun complains about someone else because of a misunderstanding and a lack of proper reflection, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 19: cursing

If a nun curses herself or someone else, referring to hell or the spiritual life, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 20: crying and beating oneself

If a nun cries after repeatedly beating herself, she commits an offense entailing confession.

The second subchapter on the dark of the night is finished.

The subchapter on nakedness

Confession 21: bathing naked

If a nun bathes naked, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 22: making an oversize bathing robe

If a nun is having a bathing robe made, it should be made the right size. This is the right size: four standard handspans long and two wide. If it exceeds that, it is to be cut down, and she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 23: unstitching a robe

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.

Confession 24: moving robes

If a nun does not move her robes for more than five days, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 25: borrowing a robe

If a nun wears a robe taken on loan, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 26: hindering robe-cloth for the community

If a nun creates an obstacle for the community to get robe-cloth, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 27: blocking robe-cloth distribution

If a nun blocks a legitimate distribution of robe-cloth, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 28: giving a robe to a non-monastic

If a nun gives a monastic robe to a householder or a male wanderer or a female wanderer, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 29: letting the robe season expire

If a nun lets the robe season expire because of an uncertain expectation of robe-cloth, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 30: blocking the ending of the robe season

If a nun blocks a legitimate ending of the robe season, she commits an offense entailing confession.

The third subchapter on nakedness is finished.

The subchapter on lying down

Confession 31: lying on the same bed

If two nuns lie down on the same bed, they commit an offense entailing confession.

Confession 32: lying on the same sheet

If two nuns lie down on the same sheet and under the same cover, they commit an offense entailing confession.

Confession 33: making a nun ill at ease

If a nun intentionally makes a nun ill at ease, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 34: not nursing a disciple

If a nun neither nurses a suffering disciple, nor makes any effort to have someone else nurse her, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 35: evicting a nun

If a nun gives a dwelling place to a nun, and then, in anger, throws her out or has her thrown out, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 36: socializing with a householder

If a nun is socializing with a householder or a householder’s offspring, the nuns should correct her like this:

‘Venerable, don’t socialize with householders or householders’ offspring. Be secluded, venerable. The Sangha praises seclusion for the sisters.’

If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop.

If she then stops, all is well.

If she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 37: wandering within the country

If a nun goes wandering without a group of travelers where it is considered risky and dangerous within her own country, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 38: wandering outside the country

If a nun goes wandering without a group of travelers where it is considered risky and dangerous outside her own country, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 39: wandering during the rainy season

If a nun goes wandering during the rainy season, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 40: not wandering after the rainy season

If a nun who has completed the rainy-season residence does not go wandering at least 65 to 80 kilometers, she commits an offense entailing confession.

The fourth subchapter on lying down is finished.

The subchapter on galleries

Confession 41: visiting places of pleasure

If a nun visits a royal house or a gallery or a park or a garden or a lotus pond, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 42: using luxurious furniture

If a nun uses a high or luxurious couch, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 43: spinning yarn

If a nun spins yarn, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 44: serving householders

If a nun provides services for a householder, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 45: not resolving a legal issue

If, when a nun is requested by a nun to resolve a legal issue, she agrees, but then neither resolves it nor makes any effort to resolve it, then, if there were no obstacles, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 46: giving food to a non-monastic

If a nun personally gives fresh or cooked food to a householder or a male wanderer or a female wanderer, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 47: not relinquishing a communal robe

If a nun does not relinquish a communal robe, but continues to use it, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 48: not relinquishing a lodging

If a nun goes wandering without relinquishing her lodging, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 49: studying worldly subjects

If a nun studies worldly subjects, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 50: teaching worldly subjects

If a nun teaches worldly subjects, she commits an offense entailing confession.

The fifth subchapter on galleries is finished.

The subchapter on monasteries

Confession 51: entering a monks’ monastery

If a nun, knowing that there are monks in a monastery, enters it without asking permission, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 52: abusing a monk

If a nun abuses or reviles a monk, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 53: reviling the community

If a furious nun reviles the community, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 54: eating more after refusing an offer

If a nun, who has been invited to a meal, refuses an offer to eat more, and then eats fresh or cooked food, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 55: being stingy with families

If a nun keeps a family to herself, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 56: spending the rainy season apart from monks

If a nun spends the rainy-season residence in a monastery without monks, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 57: not doing the invitation ceremony

If a nun who has completed the rainy-season residence does not invite correction from both Sanghas in regard to three things—what has been seen, heard, or suspected—she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 58: not going to the instruction

If a nun does not go to the instruction or to a formal meeting of the community, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 59: not seeking the instruction

Every half-month a nun should seek two things from the Sangha of monks: asking it about the observance day and going to it for the instruction. If she lets the half-month pass, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 60: getting medical treatment from a man

If a nun, alone with a man, without getting permission from the Sangha or a group, has an abscess or a wound situated on the lower part of her body ruptured by him, or split open, washed, anointed, bandaged, or unwrapped by him, she commits an offense entailing confession.

The sixth subchapter on monasteries is finished.

The subchapter on pregnant women

Confession 61: ordaining a pregnant woman

If a nun gives the full admission to a pregnant woman, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 62: ordaining a breastfeeding woman

If a nun gives the full admission to a woman who is breastfeeding, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 63: ordaining an untrained candidate

If a nun gives the full admission to a trainee nun who has not trained for two years in the six rules, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 64: ordaining a trained candidate without approval

If a nun gives the full admission to a trainee nun who has trained for two years in the six rules, but who has not been approved by the Sangha, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 65: ordaining a married girl under twelve

If a nun gives the full admission to a married girl who is less than twelve years old, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 66: ordaining an untrained married girl

If a nun gives the full admission to a married girl who is more than twelve years old, but who has not trained for two years in the six rules, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 67: ordaining a trained married girl without approval

If a nun gives the full admission to a married girl who is more than twelve years old and who has trained for two years in the six rules, but who has not been approved by the Sangha, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 68: not guiding a disciple after ordination

If a nun gives the full admission to a disciple, and then, for the next two years, neither guides her nor has her guided, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 69: not following a mentor

If a nun does not follow the mentor who gave her the full admission for two years, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 70: not sending away a new disciple

If a nun gives the full admission to a disciple, and then neither sends her away nor has her sent away at least 65 to 80 kilometers, she commits an offense entailing confession.

The seventh subchapter on pregnant women is finished.

The subchapter on unmarried women

Confession 71: ordaining an unmarried woman under twenty

If a nun gives the full admission to an unmarried woman who is less than twenty years old, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 72: ordaining an untrained unmarried woman

If a nun gives the full admission to an unmarried woman who is more than twenty years old, but who has not trained for two years in the six rules, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 73: ordaining a trained unmarried woman without approval

If a nun gives the full admission to an unmarried woman who is more than twenty years old and who has trained for two years in the six rules, but who has not been approved by the Sangha, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 74: giving ordination while under twelve years’ seniority

If a nun who has less than twelve years of seniority gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 75: giving ordination without approval

If a nun who has twelve years of seniority gives the full admission without approval from the Sangha, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 76: agreeing to stop ordaining, but then criticizing it

If a nun is told, ‘Venerable, you’ve given enough full admissions for now,’ and she consents, saying, ‘Fine,’ but then criticizes it afterwards, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 77: not ordaining a trainee after promising

If a nun tells a trainee nun, ‘If you give me a robe, venerable, I’ll give you the full admission,’ but she then neither gives her the full admission nor makes any effort to have her fully admitted, then, if there were no obstacles, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 78: not ordaining a trainee who has followed one

If a nun tells a trainee nun, ‘If you follow me for two years, venerable, I’ll give you the full admission,’ but she then neither gives her the full admission nor makes any effort to have her fully admitted, then, if there were no obstacles, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 79: ordaining one who is difficult to live with

If a nun gives the full admission to a trainee nun who is socializing with men and boys and who is temperamental and difficult to live with, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 80: ordaining without permission from family

If a nun gives the full admission to a trainee nun who has not been given permission by her parents or her husband, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 81: ordaining after consent expires

If, when a given consent has expired, a nun gives the full admission to a trainee nun, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 82: ordaining every year

If a nun gives full admission every year, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 83: ordaining two in the same year

If a nun gives the full admission to two women in the same year, she commits an offense entailing confession.

The eighth subchapter on unmarried women is finished.

The subchapter on sunshades and sandals

Confession 84: using sunshades and sandals

If a nun who is not sick uses a sunshade and sandals, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 85: traveling in a vehicle

If a nun who is not sick travels in a vehicle, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 86: wearing a hip ornament

If a nun wears a hip ornament, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 87: wearing jewelry

If a nun wears jewelry, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 88: bathing in scents and colors

If a nun bathes with scents and colors, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 89: bathing with sesame paste

If a nun bathes with scented sesame paste, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 90: getting a massage from a nun

If a nun has a nun massage her or rub her, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 91: getting a massage from a trainee nun

If a nun has a trainee nun massage her or rub her, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 92: getting a massage from a novice nun

If a nun has a novice nun massage her or rub her, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 93: getting a massage from a female householder

If a nun has a female householder massage her or rub her, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 94: sitting in front without permission

If a nun sits down on a seat in front of a monk without asking permission, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 95: asking a question without permission

If a nun asks a question of a monk who has not given her permission, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 96: not wearing a chest wrap

If a nun enters an inhabited area without wearing her chest wrap, she commits an offense entailing confession.

The ninth subchapter on sunshades and sandals is finished.

The subchapter on lying

Confession 97: lying

If a nun lies in full awareness, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 98: abusive speech

If a nun speaks abusively, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 99: malicious talebearing

If a nun engages in malicious talebearing between nuns, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 100: instructing a householder to memorize the Teaching

If a nun instructs a person who is not fully ordained to memorize the Teaching, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 101: lying down with one not fully ordained

If a nun lies down more than two or three nights in the same sleeping place as a woman who is not fully ordained, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 102: lying down with a man

If a nun lies down in the same sleeping place as a man, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 103: teaching a man alone

If a nun gives a teaching of more than five or six sentences to a man, except in the presence of a woman who understands, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 104: truthfully announcing a superhuman quality

If a nun truthfully tells a person who is not fully ordained of a superhuman quality, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 105: announcing a nun’s grave offense

If a nun tells a person who is not fully ordained about a nun’s grave offense, except if the nuns have agreed, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 106: digging the earth

If a nun digs the earth or has it dug, she commits an offense entailing confession.

The tenth subchapter on lying is finished.

The subchapter on plants

Confession 107: destroying plants

If a nun destroys a plant, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 108: speaking evasively

If a nun speaks evasively or harasses, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 109: complaining

If a nun complains or criticizes, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 110: leaving furniture outside

If a nun takes a bed, a bench, a mattress, or a stool belonging to the Sangha and puts it out in the open or has it put out in the open, and she then departs without putting it away, having it put away, or informing anyone, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 111: not putting away bedding

If a nun puts out bedding in a dwelling belonging to the Sangha, or has it put out, and she then departs without putting it away, having it put away, or informing anyone, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 112: encroaching on a nun

If, in a dwelling belonging to the Sangha, a nun arranges her sleeping place in a way that encroaches on a nun that she knows arrived there before her, with the intention that anyone who feels crowded will leave, and she does so only for this reason and no other, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 113: evicting a nun

If a nun, in anger, throws a nun out of a dwelling belonging to the Sangha, or has her thrown out, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 114: sitting down on an upper story

If a nun sits down or lies down on a bed or a bench with detachable legs on an upper story in a dwelling belonging to the Sangha, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 115: applying excessive materials to a large dwelling

When a nun is building a large dwelling, then standing where there are no cultivated plants, she may apply two or three layers of roofing material, taking it as far as the doorcase and using it for fixing the door and for treating the window openings.

If she applies more than that, even if she stands where there are no cultivated plants, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 116: pouring water with living beings in it

If a nun pours water that she knows contains living beings onto grass or clay, or has it poured, she commits an offense entailing confession.

The eleventh subchapter on plants is finished.

The subchapter on eating

Confession 117: eating excessively at a public guesthouse

If a nun who is not sick eats more than one almsmeal at a public guesthouse,

she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 118: eating in a group

If a nun eats in a group, except on an appropriate occasion, she commits an offense entailing confession.

These are the appropriate occasions: she is sick; it is the robe-giving season; it is a time of making robes; she is traveling; she is on a boat; it is a big occasion; it is a meal given by a monastic.

Confession 119: accepting more than three bowlfuls

If a nun goes to a family and is invited to take cookies or crackers, she may accept two or three bowlfuls if she wishes.

If she accepts more than that, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she accepts two or three bowlfuls, she should take it away and share it with the nuns. This is the proper procedure.

Confession 120: eating at the wrong time

If a nun eats fresh or cooked food at the wrong time, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 121: eating stored food

If a nun eats fresh or cooked food that she has stored, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 122: eating ungiven food

If a nun eats food that has not been given, except for water and tooth cleaners, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 123: dismissing a nun during almsround

If a nun says to a nun, ‘Come, let’s go to the village or town for alms,’ and then, whether she has had food given to her or not, sends her away, saying, ‘Go away, I’m not comfortable talking or sitting with you, but only if I talk and sit by myself,’ and she does so only for this reason and no other, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 124: intruding on a lustful couple

If a nun sits down intruding on a lustful couple, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 125: sitting with a man in a concealed place

If a nun sits down in private on a concealed seat with a man, she commits an offense entailing confession.