Wearing jewelry (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC87)

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on sunshades and sandals

Wearing jewelry

Origin story

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

the nuns from the group of six were wearing jewelry.

People complained and criticized them,

“How can nuns wear jewelry? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!”

The nuns heard the complaints of those people.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“How can the nuns from the group of six wear jewelry?” …

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

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them …

“How can the nuns from the group of six do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

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

Final ruling

‘If a nun wears jewelry, 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.

Jewelry:

what goes on the head, what goes around the neck, what goes on the hands, what goes on the feet, what goes around the hips.

Wears:

if she wears it even once, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if she does it because she is sick;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The fourth training rule is finished.