Nuns’ Training (Sekhiya) 1 (PLI-TV-BI-VB-SK1)

These rules for training, ladies, come up for recitation.

At that time the enlightened one, the lord, was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time the group of six nuns dressed with the inner robe hanging down in front and behind. People … spread it about, saying: “How can these nuns dress with the inner robe hanging down in front and behind, 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 dress … and behind?” …

“Is it true, as is said, monks, that the group of six nuns … and behind?”

“It is true, lord.”

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

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

“‘I will dress with the inner robe all round (me),’ is a training to be observed.”

One should dress with the inner robe going all round one for covering the circle of the navel, the circle of the knees. Whoever out of disrespect dresses with the inner robe hanging down in front or behind, there is an offence of wrong-doing.

There is no offence if it is unintentional; if she is not thinking; if she does not know; if she is ill; if there are accidents; if she is mad, if she is the first wrong-doer …

spread it about, saying: “How can these nuns ease themselves and spit in the water, 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 … in the water?” Then these nuns told this matter to the monks. The monks told this matter to the lord. Then the lord questioned the monks, saying:

“Is it true, as is said, monks, that the group of six nuns … in the water?”

“It is true, lord.”

The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them, saying: “How, monks, can this group of six nuns … in the water? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … this rule of training:

“‘I will not ease myself or spit in the water,’ is a training to be observed.”

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

The Book of the Discipline was translated by I.B. Horner.

Digital edition prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato

A complete digital edition can be downloaded here.

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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