Getting medical treatment from a man (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC60)

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on monasteries

Getting medical treatment from a man

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery,

a certain nun was alone with a man, when she had him rupture an abscess growing on the lower part of her body.

When he tried to rape her,

she cried out.

The nuns rushed up and asked her why.

And she told them what had happened.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,

“How could a nun be alone with a man and have him rupture an abscess growing on the lower part of her body?” …

“Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked her …

“How could a nun do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

‘If a nun, alone with a man, without getting permission from the Sangha or a group, has an abscess or a wound situated on the lower part of her body ruptured by him, or split open, washed, anointed, bandaged, or unwrapped by him, 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.

The lower part of the body:

below the navel and above the knees.

Situated:

situated there.

An abscess:

any kind of abscess.¹

A wound:

any kind of sore.

Without getting permission:

without having asked permission.

The Sangha:

the Sangha of nuns is what is meant.

A group:

several nuns is what is meant.

A man:

a human male, not a male spirit, not a male ghost, not a male animal. He understands and is capable of raping.

With:

together.

Alone:

just the man and the nun.

If she tells him, “Rupture it,” she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

When it has been ruptured, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she tells him, “Split it open,” she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

When it has been split open, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she tells him, “Wash it,” she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

When it has been washed, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she tells him, “Anoint it,” she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

When it has been anointed, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she tells him, “Bandage it,” she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

When it has been bandaged, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If she tells him, “Unwrap it,” she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

When it has been unwrapped, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if she gets permission and then has it ruptured, split open, washed, anointed, bandaged, or unwrapped;

if she has a female companion who understands;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The tenth training rule is finished.

The sixth subchapter on monasteries is finished.