Nuns’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 22 (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC22)

… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time bathing cloths for the nuns were allowed by the lord. The group of six nuns, saying: “Bathing cloths are allowed by the lord,” wore bathing cloths that were not of a (proper) measure; they went about trailing (these) in front as well as behind. Those who were modest nuns … spread it about, saying: “How can the group of six nuns wear bathing cloths that are not of a (proper) measure?” …

“Is it true, as is said, monks, that the group of six nuns wear bathing cloths that are not of a (proper) measure?”

“It is true, lord.”

The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them, saying:

“How, monks, can the group of six nuns wear bathing cloths that are not of a (proper) measure? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … this rule of training:

“When a bathing cloth is being made for a nun, it must be made to a (proper) measure. This is the (proper) measure here: in length four spans according to the accepted span, in width two spans. For her who exceeds this (measure), there is an offence of expiation involving cutting down.”

Bathing cloth means: dressed in which, she bathes.

Is being made means: making or causing to be made.

It must be made to a (proper) measure. This is the (proper) measure here: in length four spans according to the accepted span, in width two spans means: if she makes it or causes it to be made exceeding this (measure), in the business there is an offence of wrong-doing; having cut it down on acquisition, an offence of expiation is to be confessed.

If what was incompletely executed by herself she has finished by herself, there is an offence of expiation. If she makes others finish what was incompletely executed by herself … If what was incompletely executed by others she has finished by herself … If she makes others finish what was incompletely executed by others, there is an offence of expiation. If she makes it or causes it to be made for another, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If, having acquired what was made for another, she makes use of it, there is an offence of wrong-doing.

There is no offence if she makes it to the (proper) measure; if she makes it to less than the (proper) measure; if having acquired what was made for another (but) exceeding the (proper) measure, having cut it down, she makes use of it; if she makes a canopy or a ground-covering or a screen-wall or a mattress or a squatting-mat; if she is mad, if she is the first wrong-doer.

The Book of the Discipline was translated by I.B. Horner.

Digital edition prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato

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Published in 2014 by SuttaCentral.

Originally published by the Pali Text Society in the following years:

Vol. 1: 1938

Vol. 2: 1940

Vol. 3: 1942

Vol. 4: 1951

Vol. 5: 1950

Vol. 6: 1966

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