Getting a massage from a nun (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC90)

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on sunshades and sandals

Getting a massage from a nun

Origin story

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

the nuns were having a nun massage and rub them.

When people walking about the dwellings saw this, they complained and criticized them,

“How can nuns get a nun to massage and rub them? 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 nuns get a nun to massage and rub them?” …

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

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them …

“How can nuns do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

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

Final ruling

‘If a nun has a nun massage her or rub her, 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.

A nun:

another nun.

If she has a nun massage her:

if she gets her to massage her, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Or if she has a nun rub her:

if she gets her to rub her, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if she is sick;

if there is an emergency;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The seventh training rule is finished.