Nuns’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 84 (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC84)

… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the group of six nuns used sunshades and sandals. People … spread it about, saying: “How can these nuns use sunshades and sandals, like women householders who enjoy pleasures of the senses?” Nuns heard these people who … spread it about. Those who were modest nuns … spread it about, saying: “How can this group of six nuns use sunshades and sandals?” …

“Is it true, as is said, monks … and sandals?”

“It is true, lord.”

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

“How, monks, can … and sandals? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … this rule of training:

“Whatever nun should use a sunshade and sandals, there is an offence of expiation.”

And thus this rule of training for nuns came to be laid down by the lord.

At that time a certain nun came to be ill; there was no comfort for her without a sunshade and sandals. They told this matter to the lord. He said: “Monks, I allow a sunshade and sandals to a nun who is ill. And thus, monks, let the nuns set forth this rule of training:

“Whatever nun who is not ill should use a sunshade and sandals, there is an offence of expiation.”

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

Who is not ill means: for whom there is comfort without a sunshade and sandals.

Who is ill means: for whom there is not comfort without a sunshade and sandals.

Sunshade means: there are three (kinds of) sunshade: white sunshade, sunshade of rushes, sunshade of leaves, fastened at the middle, fastened to the rim.

Should use means: if she uses (them) even once, there is an offence of expiation.

If she thinks that she is not ill when she is not ill (and) uses a sunshade and sandals, there is an offence of expiation. If she is in doubt as to whether she is not ill … If she thinks that she is ill when she is not ill … offence of expiation. If she uses a sunshade (but) not sandals, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If she uses sandals (but) not a sunshade, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If she thinks that she is not ill when she is ill … If she is in doubt as to whether she is ill, there is an offence of wrong-doing. If she thinks that she is ill when she is ill, there is no offence.

There is no offence if she is ill; if she uses (them) in a monastery, in monastery precincts; 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.

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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