Naggavaggasikkhābada

Vinayapiṭaka · Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga · Vol. 3 · Section 242

[242] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time out-of-season robe-cloth (akālacīvara) had accrued to the bhikkhunī Saṅgha. Then the bhikkhunī Saṅgha assembled, wishing to distribute that robe-cloth. Now at that time the bhikkhunī pupils (antevāsinī) of the bhikkhunī Thullanandā had departed. The bhikkhunī Thullanandā said this to those bhikkhunīs: "Ladies, the bhikkhunīs have departed; the robe-cloth shall not yet be distributed" — and so she obstructed the distribution of robes. The bhikkhunīs, thinking, "The robe-cloth will not yet be distributed," departed. When the pupil bhikkhunīs had come back, the bhikkhunī Thullanandā had that robe-cloth distributed. Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … took offense, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How indeed can the lady Thullanandā obstruct a lawful distribution of robes?" … "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that the bhikkhunī Thullanandā obstructs a lawful distribution of robes?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked her: "Bhikkhus, how indeed can the bhikkhunī Thullanandā obstruct a lawful distribution of robes? This, bhikkhus, does not conduce to the confidence of those without confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule (sikkhāpada): "Should any bhikkhunī obstruct a lawful distribution of robes, it is an offense entailing expiation (pācittiya)."

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.

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