Wandering within the country (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC37)

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on lying down

Wandering within the country

Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

At that time the nuns went wandering without a group of travelers where it was considered risky and dangerous within their own country.

Scoundrels raped them.¹

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“How can nuns go wandering without a group of travelers where it’s considered risky and dangerous within their own country?” …

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

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them …

“How can 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 goes wandering without a group of travelers where it is considered risky and dangerous within her own country, 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.

Within her own country:

in the country where she is living.

Risky:

a place has been seen along that road where criminals are camping, eating, standing, sitting, or lying down.

Dangerous:

criminals have been seen along that road, injuring, robbing, or beating people.

Without a group of travelers:

in the absence of a group of travelers.

Goes wandering:

when the inhabited areas are a chicken’s flight apart, then for every next inhabited area she commits an offense entailing confession.²

When it is an uninhabited area, a wilderness, then for every six kilometers she commits an offense entailing confession.³

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if she travels with a group;

if she travels where it is safe and free from danger;

if there is an emergency;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The seventh training rule is finished.