The nuns’ rules (PLI-TV-BI-PM)

Confession 126: sitting alone with a man

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

The twelfth subchapter on eating is finished.

The subchapter on visiting

Confession 127: visiting families before a meal

If a nun who has been invited to a meal visits families beforehand or afterwards without informing an available nun, except on an appropriate occasion, she commits an offense entailing confession.

These are the appropriate occasions: it is the robe-giving season; it is a time of making robes.

Confession 128: accepting an invitation of more than four months

A nun who is not sick may accept an invitation to ask for requisites for four months. If she accepts one beyond that limit, except if it is a further invitation or a permanent invitation, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 129: going to see a mobilized army

If a nun goes to see an army, except if there is a suitable reason, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 130: staying more than three days with an army

If that nun has a reason for going to the army, she may stay with the army for two or three nights. If she stays longer than that, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 131: seeing an army in action

If a nun who is staying with an army for two or three nights goes to a battle, a troop review, a massing of the army, or a troop inspection, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 132: drinking alcohol

If a nun drinks this or that kind of alcoholic drink, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 133: tickling

If a nun tickles someone, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 134: playing in water

If a nun plays in water, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 135: disrespect

If a nun is disrespectful, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 136: scaring a nun

If a nun scares a nun, she commits an offense entailing confession.

The thirteenth subchapter on visiting is finished.

The subchapter on fire

Confession 137: lighting a fire

If a nun who is not sick lights a fire to warm herself, or has one lit, except if there is a suitable reason, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 138: bathing too often

If a nun bathes at intervals of less than a half-month, except on an appropriate occasion, she commits an offense entailing confession.

These are the appropriate occasions: it is the two-and-a-half-month period of summer and the fever season, comprising the last one-and-a-half months of summer and the first month of the rainy season; she is sick; she is working; she is traveling; there is wind and rain.

Confession 139: not making stains on a new robe

When a nun gets a new robe, she should apply one of three kinds of stains: blue-green, mud color, or dark brown. If a nun uses a new robe without applying any of the three kinds of stains, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 140: using assigned property that has not been relinquished

If a nun herself assigns the ownership of a robe to a monk, a nun, a trainee nun, a novice monk, or a novice nun, and she then uses it without the other first relinquishing it, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 141: hiding a robe

If a nun hides a nun’s bowl, robe, sitting mat, needle case, or belt, or she has it hidden, even just for a laugh, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 142: intentionally killing a living being

If a nun intentionally kills a living being, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 143: using water with living beings in it

If a nun uses water that she knows contains living beings, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 144: reopening a settled legal issue

If a nun reopens a legal issue that she knows has been legitimately settled, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 145: traveling with thieves

If a nun knowingly travels by arrangement with a group of thieves, even just to the next inhabited area, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 146: not giving up a bad view

If a nun says,

‘As I understand the Buddha’s Teaching, the things he calls obstacles are unable to obstruct one who indulges in them,’

then the nuns should correct her like this:

‘No, venerable, don’t misrepresent the Buddha, for it’s not good to misrepresent the Buddha. The Buddha would never say such a thing.

In many discourses the Buddha has declared the obstacles to be obstructive and how they obstruct one who indulges in them.’

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

If she then gives it up, all is well.

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

The fourteenth subchapter on fire is finished.

The subchapter on view

Confession 147: living with an ejected nun

If a nun lives, does formal meetings, or shares a sleeping place with a nun who she knows is saying such things, who has not made amends according to the rule, and who has not given up that view, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 148: supporting a novice nun with a bad view

Also if a novice nun says,

‘As I understand the Buddha’s Teaching, the things he calls obstacles are unable to obstruct one who indulges in them,’

then the nuns should correct her like this:

‘No, don’t misrepresent the Buddha, for it’s not good to misrepresent the Buddha. The Buddha would never say such a thing.

In many discourses the Buddha has declared the obstacles to be obstructive and how they obstruct one who indulges in them.’

If that novice nun continues as before, she should be told:

‘From today on you may not refer to the Buddha as your teacher.

And, unlike other novices, you can no longer share a sleeping place with the nuns for two or three nights.

Go! Away with you!’

If a nun befriends that novice nun, or she is attended on by her, lives with her, or shares a sleeping place with her, even though she knows that she has been expelled in this way, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 149: not accepting legitimate correction

If a nun, when legitimately corrected by the nuns, says, ‘I won’t practice this training rule until I’ve questioned a nun who is an expert on the Monastic Law,’ she commits an offense entailing confession.

A nun who is training should understand, should question, should enquire. This is the proper procedure.

Confession 150: disparaging the training rules

When the Monastic Code is being recited, if a nun says, ‘What’s the point of reciting these minor training rules, when they just lead to anxiety, oppression, and annoyance?’ then in disparaging the training rules, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 151: deception

During the half-monthly recitation of the Monastic Code, a nun might say,

‘Just now did I find out that this rule too has come down in the Monastic Code, is included in the Monastic Code, and comes up for recitation every half-month.’

If other nuns know that that nun has previously sat through at least two or three recitations of the Monastic Code, then that nun is not let off because of ignorance, and she is to be dealt with according to the rule. Further, she should be charged with deception:

‘It’s a loss for you that you don’t pay proper attention during the recitation of the Monastic Code.’

And for the act of deception, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 152: hitting in anger

If a nun hits a nun in anger, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 153: raising a hand in anger

If a nun raises a hand in anger against a nun, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 154: making a groundless accusation

If a nun groundlessly charges a nun with an offense entailing suspension, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 155: intentionally making a nun anxious

If a nun intentionally makes a nun anxious, thinking, ‘In this way she will be ill at ease at least for a moment,’ and she does so only for this reason and no other, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 156: eavesdropping

If a nun eavesdrops on nuns who are arguing and disputing, thinking, ‘I’ll hear what they say,’ and she does so only for this reason and no other, she commits an offense entailing confession.

The fifteenth subchapter on view is finished.

The subchapter on legitimate correction

Confession 157: criticizing a legitimate legal procedure

If a nun gives her consent to legitimate legal procedures, and then criticizes them afterwards, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 158: leaving without giving consent

When the Sangha is in the middle of a discussion, if a nun gets up from her seat and leaves without first giving her consent, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 159: criticizing a robe distribution

If a nun gives out a robe as part of a unanimous Sangha and then criticizes it afterwards, saying, ‘The nuns are diverting the Sangha’s material support according to friendship,’ she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 160: diverting gains intended for the Sangha

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

Confession 161: picking up precious things

If a nun picks up something precious or something regarded as precious, or she has it picked up, except within a monastery or inside a lodging, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she picks up something precious or something regarded as precious, or she has it picked up, within a monastery or inside a lodging, she should put it aside with the thought, ‘Whoever owns it will come and get it.’ This is the proper procedure.

Confession 162: making an inappropriate needle case

If a nun has a needle case made from bone, ivory, or horn, it is to be destroyed, and she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 163: making an inappropriate bed or bench

If a nun is having a new bed or bench made, it is to have legs eight standard fingerbreadths long below the lowest frame. If the legs exceed that, they are to be cut down, and she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 164: making an upholstered bed or bench

If a nun has a bed or a bench made upholstered with cotton down, it is to be stripped, and she commits an offense entailing confession.

Confession 165: making an oversize itch cloth

If a nun is having an itch-covering cloth 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 166: making an oversize robe

If a nun has a robe made that is the standard robe size or larger, it is to be cut down, and she commits an offense entailing confession.

This is the standard robe size: nine standard handspans long and six wide.

The sixteenth subchapter on legitimate correction is finished.

Venerables, the one hundred and sixty-six rules on 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 chapter on offenses entailing confession is finished.

The rules on acknowledgement

Venerables, these eight rules on acknowledgment come up for recitation.

Acknowledgement 1: asking for ghee

If a nun who is not sick asks for ghee and then eats it, she must acknowledge it:

‘I’ve done a blameworthy and unsuitable thing that is to be acknowledged. I acknowledge it.’

Acknowledgement 2: asking for oil

If a nun who is not sick asks for oil and then eats it, she must acknowledge it:

‘I’ve done a blameworthy and unsuitable thing that is to be acknowledged. I acknowledge it.’

Acknowledgement 3: asking for honey

If a nun who is not sick asks for honey and then eats it, she must acknowledge it:

‘I’ve done a blameworthy and unsuitable thing that is to be acknowledged. I acknowledge it.’

Acknowledgement 4: asking for syrup

If a nun who is not sick asks for syrup and then eats it, she must acknowledge it:

‘I’ve done a blameworthy and unsuitable thing that is to be acknowledged. I acknowledge it.’

Acknowledgement 5: asking for fish

If a nun who is not sick asks for fish and then eats it, she must acknowledge it:

‘I’ve done a blameworthy and unsuitable thing that is to be acknowledged. I acknowledge it.’

Acknowledgement 6: asking for meat

If a nun who is not sick asks for meat and then eats it, she must acknowledge it:

‘I’ve done a blameworthy and unsuitable thing that is to be acknowledged. I acknowledge it.’

Acknowledgement 7: asking for milk

If a nun who is not sick asks for milk and then eats it, she must acknowledge it:

‘I’ve done a blameworthy and unsuitable thing that is to be acknowledged. I acknowledge it.’

Acknowledgement 8: asking for curd

If a nun who is not sick asks for curd and then eats it, she must acknowledge it:

‘I have done a blameworthy and unsuitable thing that is to be acknowledged. I acknowledge it.’

Venerables, the eight rules on acknowledgment 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 chapter on offenses entailing acknowledgment is finished.

The rules of training

Venerables, these rules of training come up for recitation.

The subchapter on evenly all around

Training 1: not wearing the sarong evenly all around

‘I will wear my sarong evenly all around,’ this is how you should train.

Training 2: not wearing the upper robe evenly all around

‘I will wear my upper robe evenly all around,’ this is how you should train.

Training 3: not being well-covered

‘I will be well-covered while walking in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 4: not being well-covered

‘I will be well-covered while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 5: being unrestrained

‘I will be well-restrained while walking in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 6: being unrestrained

‘I will be well-restrained while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 7: not lowering the eyes

‘I will lower my eyes while walking in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 8: not lowering the eyes

‘I will lower my eyes while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 9: lifting the robes

‘I will not lift my robe while walking in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 10: lifting the robes

‘I will not lift my robe while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

The first subchapter on evenly all around is finished.

The subchapter on laughing loudly

Training 11: laughing loudly

‘I will not laugh loudly while walking in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 12: laughing loudly

‘I will not laugh loudly while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 13: being noisy

‘I will not be noisy while walking in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 14: being noisy

‘I will not be noisy while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 15: swaying the body

‘I will not sway my body while walking in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 16: swaying the body

‘I will not sway my body while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 17: swinging the arms

‘I will not swing my arms while walking in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 18: swinging the arms

‘I will not swing my arms while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 19: swaying the head

‘I will not sway my head while walking in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 20: swaying the head

‘I will not sway my head while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

The second subchapter on laughing loudly is finished.

The subchapter on hands on hips

Training 21: hands on hips

‘I will not put my hands on my hips while walking in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 22: hands on hips

‘I will not put my hands on my hips while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 23: covering the head

‘I will not cover my head while walking in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 24: covering the head

‘I will not cover my head while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 25: squatting on the heels

‘I will not move about while squatting on my heels in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 26: clasping the knees

‘I will not clasp my knees while sitting in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 27: not receiving respectfully

‘I will receive almsfood respectfully,’ this is how you should train.

Training 28: not receiving with attention on the almsbowl

‘I will receive almsfood with attention on the almsbowl,’ this is how you should train.

Training 29: not receiving in the right proportions

‘I will receive almsfood with the right proportion of bean curry,’ this is how you should train.

Training 30: not receiving on an even level

‘I will receive an even level of almsfood,’ this is how you should train.

The third subchapter on hands on hips is finished.

The subchapter on respectfully

Training 31: not eating respectfully

‘I will eat almsfood respectfully,’ this is how you should train.

Training 32: not eating with attention on the almsbowl

‘I will eat almsfood with attention on the almsbowl,’ this is how you should train.

Training 33: not eating in order

‘I will eat almsfood in order,’ this is how you should train.

Training 34: not eating in the right proportions

‘I will eat almsfood with the right proportion of bean curry,’ this is how you should train.

Training 35: making food into a heap

‘I will not eat almsfood after making a heap,’ this is how you should train.

Training 36: covering with rice

‘I will not cover my curries with rice because I want more,’ this is how you should train.

Training 37: requesting rice and bean curry

‘When not sick, I will not request bean curry or rice for myself and then eat it,’ this is how you should train.

Training 38: finding fault

‘I will not look at another’s almsbowl finding fault,’ this is how you should train.

Training 39: making an overlarge mouthful

‘I will not make mouthfuls that are too large,’ this is how you should train.

Training 40: not making rounded mouthfuls

‘I will make rounded mouthfuls,’ this is how you should train.

The fourth subchapter on respectfully is finished.

The subchapter on mouthfuls

Training 41: opening the mouth

‘I will not open my mouth without bringing a mouthful to it,’ this is how you should train.

Training 42: putting whole hand in mouth

‘I will not put my whole hand in my mouth while eating,’ this is how you should train.

Training 43: speaking with food in mouth

‘I will not speak with food in my mouth,’ this is how you should train.

Training 44: eating from lifted mouthfuls

‘I will not eat from a lifted ball of food,’ this is how you should train.

Training 45: breaking up mouthfuls

‘I will not eat breaking up mouthfuls,’ this is how you should train.

Training 46: stuffing the cheeks

‘I will not eat stuffing my cheeks,’ this is how you should train.

Training 47: shaking the hand

‘I will not eat shaking my hand,’ this is how you should train.

Training 48: scattering rice

‘I will not eat scattering rice,’ this is how you should train.

Training 49: sticking out the tongue

‘I will not eat sticking out my tongue,’ this is how you should train.

Training 50: chomping

‘I will not make a chomping sound while eating,’ this is how you should train.

The fifth subchapter on mouthfuls is finished.

The subchapter on slurping

Training 51: slurping

‘I will not slurp while eating,’ this is how you should train.

Training 52: licking the hand

‘I will not lick my hand while eating,’ this is how you should train.

Training 53: licking the almsbowl

‘I will not lick my almsbowl while eating,’ this is how you should train.

Training 54: licking the lips

‘I will not lick my lips while eating,’ this is how you should train.

Training 55: receiving with soiled hand

‘I will not receive the drinking-water vessel with a hand soiled with food,’ this is how you should train.

Training 56: discarding waste water with rice

‘I will not discard bowl-washing water containing rice in inhabited areas,’ this is how you should train.

Training 57: holding a sunshade

‘I will not give a teaching to anyone holding a sunshade who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 58: holding a staff

‘I will not give a teaching to anyone holding a staff who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 59: holding a knife

‘I will not give a teaching to anyone holding a knife who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 60: holding a weapon

‘I will not give a teaching to anyone holding a weapon who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

The sixth subchapter on slurping is finished.

The subchapter on shoes

Training 61: wearing shoes

‘I will not give a teaching to anyone wearing shoes who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 62: wearing sandals

‘I will not give a teaching to anyone wearing sandals who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 63: sitting in a vehicle

‘I will not give a teaching to anyone in a vehicle who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 64: lying down

‘I will not give a teaching to anyone lying down who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 65: clasping the knees

‘I will not give a teaching to anyone who is seated clasping their knees and who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 66: wearing a headdress

‘I will not give a teaching to anyone with a headdress who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 67: covering the head

‘I will not give a teaching to anyone with a covered head who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 68: sitting on the ground

‘I will not give a teaching while sitting on the ground to anyone sitting on a seat who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 69: sitting on a low seat

‘I will not give a teaching while sitting on a low seat to anyone sitting on a high seat who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 70: standing

‘I will not give a teaching while standing to anyone sitting who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 71: walking behind

‘I will not give a teaching to anyone walking in front of me who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 72: walking next to the path

‘I will not give a teaching while walking next to the path to anyone walking on the path who is not sick,’ this is how you should train.

Training 73: defecating while standing

‘When not sick, I will not defecate or urinate while standing,’ this is how you should train.

Training 74: defecating on cultivated plants

‘When not sick, I will not defecate, urinate, or spit on cultivated plants,’ this is how you should train.

Training 75: defecating in water

‘When not sick, I will not defecate, urinate, or spit in water,’ this is how you should train.

The seventh subchapter on shoes is finished.

Venerables, the rules of training 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 chapter on training is finished.

The settling of legal issues

Venerables, these seven principles for the settling of legal issues come up for recitation.

The settling of legal issues 1

Resolution face-to-face to be applied.

The settling of legal issues 2

Resolution through recollection to be granted.

The settling of legal issues 3

Resolution because of past insanity to be granted.

The settling of legal issues 4

Acting according to what has been admitted.

The settling of legal issues 5

Majority decision.

The settling of legal issues 6

Further penalty.

The settling of legal issues 7

Covering over as if with grass.

Venerables, the seven principles for the settling of legal issues 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 seven principles for the settling of legal issues are finished.

Venerables, the introduction has been recited;

the eight rules on expulsion have been recited;

the seventeen rules on suspension have been recited;

the thirty rules on relinquishment and confession have been recited;

the one hundred and sixty-six rules on confession have been recited;

the eight rules on acknowledgment have been recited;

the rules of training have been recited;

the seven principles for the settling of legal issues have been recited.

This much has come down and is included in the Monastic Code of the Buddha and comes up for recitation every half-month.

In regard to this everyone should train in unity, in concord, without dispute.”

The fourth recitation, in detail, is finished.

The Monastic Code for nuns is finished.

Homage to the Buddha, the Perfected One, the fully Awakened One.