Ārāmavaggasikkhābada

Vinayapiṭaka · Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga · Vol. 3 · Section 346

[346] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time a certain bhikkhunī, walking for alms along a certain street in Sāvatthī, approached a certain family; having approached, she sat down on a seat that had been prepared. Then those people, having fed that bhikkhunī, said this: "Lady, let other bhikkhunīs come as well." Then that bhikkhunī, thinking, "How might the other bhikkhunīs not come?"¹ approached the bhikkhunīs and said this: "Ladies, in such-and-such a place there are fierce dogs and a fierce ox, and the place is muddy. Do not go there." Another bhikkhunī too, walking for alms along that street, approached that family; having approached, she sat down on a seat that had been prepared. Then those people, having fed that bhikkhunī, said this: "Lady, why do the bhikkhunīs not come?" Then that bhikkhunī informed those people of this matter. The people complained, criticized, and spread it about: "How can a bhikkhunī be stingy regarding a family?" … "Is it true, bhikkhus, as is said, that a bhikkhunī is stingy regarding a family?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked: "Bhikkhus, how can a bhikkhunī be stingy regarding a family? This, bhikkhus, is not for the confidence of those without confidence … "And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule (sikkhāpada): "Whatever bhikkhunī should be one who is stingy regarding families, there is an offense of pācittiya." ¹ Variant noted in the source: M. Yu. read *kathaṃ hi nāma*.

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.

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