Nuns’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 33 (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC33)

… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the nun Thullanandā was very learned, she was a repeater, she was wise, she was skilled in giving dhamma-talk. Bhaddā Kāpilānī also was very learned … she was skilled in giving dhamma-talk, she was esteemed as being eminent. People, thinking: “Bhaddā Kāpilānī is very learned … she is skilled in giving dhamma-talk, she is esteemed as being eminent,” having first visited Bhaddā Kāpilānī afterwards visited the nun Thullanandā. The nun Thullanandā, overcome by envy, thinking: “Those who are said to have few wants, to be content, detached, not living in company, these are intent on convincing, intent on hinting,” walked up and down and stood still and sat down and lay down on a sleeping-place and recited and made (another) recite and studied in front of Bhaddā Kāpilānī. Those who were modest nuns … spread it about, saying: “How can the lady Thullanandā intentionally cause discomfort to the lady Bhaddā Kāpilānī?” …

“Is it true, as is said, monks, that the nun Thullanandā intentionally caused discomfort to Bhaddā Kāpilānī?”

“It is true, lord.”

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

“How, monks, can the nun Thullanandā intentionally cause discomfort to Bhaddā Kāpilānī? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … this rule of training:

“Whatever nun should intentionally cause discomfort to a nun, there is an offence of expiation.”

Whatever means: … nun is to be understood in this case.

To a nun means: to another nun.

Intentionally means: a transgression committed knowingly, consciously, deliberately.

Should cause discomfort means: if thinking, “Because of this there will be discomfort for her,” she walks up and down or stands still or sits down or lies down on a sleeping-place or recites or makes (another) recite or studies in front of (her) without asking (for permission), there is an offence of expiation.

If she thinks that she is ordained when she is ordained (and) intentionally causes discomfort, there is an offence of expiation. If she is in doubt as to whether she is ordained … If she thinks that she is not ordained when she is ordained (and) intentionally causes discomfort, there is an offence of expiation. If she intentionally causes discomfort to one who is not ordained, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If she thinks that she is ordained when she is not ordained, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If she is in doubt as to whether she is not ordained, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If she thinks that she is not ordained when she is not ordained, there is an offence of wrong-doing.

There is no offence if she, not desiring to cause discomfort (and) having asked (for permission), walks up and down … or studies in front of (her); 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

A complete digital edition can be downloaded here.

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

In May 2013, these volumes were kindly released by the Pali Text Society under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 licence (CC BY-NC 3.0). The current digital edition, including all revisions, corrections, additions, and modifications, is released under the same terms, which are as follows.

You are free to:

Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.

Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material.

The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

Under the following terms:

Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.

NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.

No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.