Nuns’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 85 (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC85)

… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the group of six nuns went in a vehicle. People … spread it about, saying: “How can these nuns go in a vehicle, 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 go in a vehicle?” …

“Is it true, as is said, monks, that the group of six nuns went in a vehicle?”

“It is true, lord.”

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

“How, monks, can this group of six nuns go in a vehicle? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … this rule of training:

“Whatever nun should go in a vehicle, there is an offence of expiation.”

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

Now at that time a certain nun came to be ill. She was not able to go on foot. They told this matter to the lord. He said: “I allow, monks, a vehicle for a nun who is ill. And thus, monks … this rule of training:

“Whatever nun who is not ill should go in a vehicle, there is an offence of expiation.”

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

Not ill means: she is able to go on foot.

Ill means: she is not able to go on foot.

Vehicle means: a cart, a carriage, a waggon, a chariot, a palanquin, or a sedan chair.

Should go means: if she goes even once, there is an offence of expiation.

If she thinks that she is not ill when she is not ill (and) goes in a vehicle, 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 thinks that she is not ill when she is ill, there is an offence of wrong-doing. 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 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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