Nuns’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 48 (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC48)

… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the nun Thullanandā, not having given up her dwelling, set out on almstour. Now at that time the nun Thullanandā’s dwelling caught fire. Nuns spoke thus: “Come along, ladies, we are bringing out the things.” Some spoke thus: “Ladies, we will not bring them out; she will make us responsible for everything that is destroyed.” The nun Thullanandā, having come back again to that dwelling, asked the nuns, saying: “Ladies, did you bring out my things?”

“We, lady, did not bring them out.”

The nun Thullanandā … spread it about, saying:

“How can these nuns, when a dwelling is on fire, not bring out the things?” Those who were modest nuns … spread it about, saying:

“How can the lady Thullanandā, not having given up her dwelling, set out on almstour?” …

“Is it true, as is said, monks, that the nun Thullanandā … set out on almstour?”

“It is true, lord.”

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

“How, monks, can the nun Thullanandā, not having given up her dwelling, set out on almstour? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … this rule of training:

“Whatever nun, not having given up her dwelling, should set out on almstour, there is an offence of expiation.”

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

Dwelling means: it is called fastened by a door.

Not having given up, should set out on almstour means: if, not having given up to a nun or to a probationer or to a female novice, in passing beyond the enclosure of a dwelling that is fenced in, there is an offence of expiation. In passing beyond the precincts of a dwelling that is not fenced in, there is an offence of expiation.

If she thinks that it is not given up when it is not given up (and) sets out, there is an offence of expiation. If she is in doubt as to whether it is not given up … If she thinks that it is given up when it is not given up … offence of expiation. If, not having given up what is not fastened by a door, she sets out, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If she thinks that it is not given up when it is given up … If she is in doubt as to whether it is given up, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If she thinks that it is given up when it is given up, there is no offence.

There is no offence if she sets out having given it up; if there is an obstacle; if having looked about she does not get the chance; if she is ill; if there are accidents; if she is mad, if she is the first wrong-doer.

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

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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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