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B01010410bhikkhunikkhandhakaṃ (bhikkhuni sutra)

English

having raised their hands in añjali, they should say this: ‘The assembly of bhikkhunīs, venerable sir, bows at the feet of the assembly of bhikkhus, and requests to approach for instruction; may the assembly of bhikkhunīs, venerable sir, receive permission to approach for instruction.’ That bhikkhu, having approached the reciter of the Pātimokkha, should say this: ‘The assembly of bhikkhunīs, venerable sir, bows at the feet of the assembly of bhikkhus, and requests to approach for instruction; may the assembly of bhikkhunīs, venerable sir, receive permission to approach for instruction.’ The reciter of the Pātimokkha should say: ‘Is there any bhikkhu appointed as an instructor of bhikkhunīs?’ If there is any bhikkhu appointed as an instructor of bhikkhunīs, the reciter of the Pātimokkha should say: ‘The bhikkhu named so-and-so is appointed as an instructor of bhikkhunīs; may the assembly of bhikkhunīs approach him.’ If there is no bhikkhu appointed as an instructor of bhikkhunīs, the reciter of the Pātimokkha should should be said – ‘Which venerable one is able to admonish the bhikkhunis?’ If someone is able to admonish the bhikkhunis, and he is endowed with eight qualities, having appointed him, it should be said – ‘The bhikkhu named so-and-so is appointed as the admonisher of bhikkhunis, the bhikkhuni sangha should approach him.’ If no one is able to admonish the bhikkhunis, the reciter of the Pātimokkha should say – ‘There is no bhikkhu appointed as the admonisher of bhikkhunis, the bhikkhuni sangha should make do with a pleasing appearance.’ 414. Now at that time the bhikkhus did not accept the admonition. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, the admonition is not to be rejected. Whoever does not accept it, commits an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time a certain bhikkhu was foolish. The bhikkhunis approached him and said this: “Venerable sir, accept the admonition.” “Sisters, I am foolish; how can I accept the admonition?” “Venerable sir, accept the admonition; for thus has it been laid down by the Blessed One – the admonition is to be accepted by bhikkhus.” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, I allow, except for the foolish, the rest to accept the admonition.” Now at that time a certain bhikkhu was sick. The bhikkhunis approached him and said this: “Venerable sir, accept the admonition.” “Sisters, I am sick; how can I accept the admonition?” “Venerable sir, accept the admonition; for thus has it been laid down by the Blessed One – except for the foolish, the admonition is to be accepted by the rest.” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, I allow, except for the foolish, except for the sick, the rest to accept the admonition.” Now at that time a certain bhikkhu was about to travel. The bhikkhunis approached him and said this: “Venerable sir, accept the admonition.” “Sisters, I am about to travel; how can I accept the admonition?” “Venerable sir, accept the admonition; for thus has it been laid down by the Blessed One – except for the foolish, except for the sick, (the admonition is to be accepted by the rest).” the instruction should be received from the rest." They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, excluding the foolish, excluding the sick, excluding the traveler, that instruction be received from the rest." Now at that time a certain monk was dwelling in the wilderness. The bhikkhunis approached him and said this: "Venerable sir, receive instruction." "Indeed, sisters, I dwell in the wilderness; how can I receive instruction?" "Venerable sir, receive instruction; for thus has the Blessed One laid down – excluding the foolish, excluding the sick, excluding the traveler, instruction should be received from the rest." They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, that a wilderness-dwelling monk may receive instruction, and may make an appointment – 'I will bring it here.' " 415. Now at that time the monks, having received instruction, did not report it. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, instruction should not be left unreported. Whoever does not report it, commits an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time the monks, having received instruction, did not bring it back. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, instruction should not be left unreturned. Whoever does not return it, commits an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time the bhikkhunis did not go to the appointment. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a bhikkhuni should not fail to go to an appointment. Whoever does not go, commits an offense of wrong-doing." 416. Now at that time the bhikkhunis wore long waistbands, and with them they bent their sides. People complained, grumbled, and criticized… etc. … just like householders enjoying sensual pleasures. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a bhikkhuni should not wear a long waistband. Whoever wears one, commits an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, for a bhikkhuni a waistband that goes around once, and with it, the sides should not be bent. Whoever bends should wear, there is an offense of wrong-doing. Now at that time, the nuns adorned their sides with a soft band… …with a leather band they adorned their sides. With a cloth band they adorned their sides. With a cloth braid they adorned their sides. With a cloth roll they adorned their sides. With a rag band they adorned their sides. With a rag braid they adorned their sides. With a rag roll they adorned their sides. With a thread braid they adorned their sides. With a thread roll they adorned their sides. People complained, grumbled, criticized— “Just like laywomen who indulge in sensual pleasures!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, a nun should not adorn her sides with a soft band… …nor should she adorn her sides with a thread roll. If she adorns, there is an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, the nuns rubbed their hips with a bone… …with a cow's knee they pounded their hips. They pounded their hands. They pounded their knuckles. They pounded their feet. They pounded their ankle bones. They pounded their thighs. They pounded their faces. They pounded their gums. People complained, grumbled, criticized… …“just like laywomen who indulge in sensual pleasures!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, a nun should not cause her hips to be rubbed with a bone… …nor should her gums be pounded. If she pounds, there is an offense of wrong-doing.” Now at that time, the group-of-six nuns smeared their faces… …they massaged their faces. They powdered their faces. With red arsenic they painted their faces. They applied body makeup. They applied face makeup. They applied body and face makeup. People complained, grumbled, criticized… …“just like laywomen who indulge in sensual pleasures!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, a nun should not smear her face… …nor should her face be massaged, nor should her face be powdered, nor should her face be painted with red arsenic, nor should body makeup be applied.” Oh, no face-paint should be done, no body-paint or face-paint should be done. Whoever does it, there is an offense of wrong-doing. Now at that time, the group of six nuns made eyebrow-marks, made beauty-spots, they looked through peepholes, they stood in open windows; they had dancing performed, they set up prostitutes, they set up taverns, they set up slaughterhouses, they opened shops, they engaged in usury, they engaged in trade, they employed male slaves, they employed female slaves, they employed male laborers, they employed female laborers, they employed animals, they scattered green leaves, they wore felt. People complained, grumbled, and criticized, saying, "Just like laywomen who enjoy sensual pleasures!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a nun should not make eyebrow-marks, nor make beauty-spots, nor look through peepholes, nor stand in open windows, nor have dancing performed, nor set up prostitutes, nor set up taverns, nor set up slaughterhouses, nor open shops, nor engage in usury, nor engage in trade, nor employ male slaves, nor employ female slaves, nor employ male laborers, nor employ female laborers, nor employ animals, nor scatter green leaves, nor wear felt. Whoever wears it, there is an offense of wrong-doing." 418. Now at that time, the group of six nuns wore robes that were entirely blue, they wore robes that were entirely yellow, they wore robes that were entirely red, they wore robes that were entirely madder-red, they wore robes that were entirely black, they wore robes dyed in strong colors, they wore robes dyed in famous colors, they wore robes with uncut fringes, they wore robes with long fringes, flower... they wear robes with fringes, they wear robes with fruit-fringes, they wear a jacket, they wear a head-ornament. People complain, grumble, and criticize... ...just like laywomen who enjoy sensual pleasures. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a nun should not wear all-blue robes... ...nor should she wear a head-ornament. Whoever wears one incurs an offense of wrong-doing." 419. Now at that time a certain nun, as she was dying, said this: "After my passing, let my requisites belong to the Saṅgha." There, the monks and nuns disputed, saying: "It belongs to us! It belongs to us!" They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, if a nun, as she is dying, should say this: 'After my passing, let my requisites belong to the Saṅgha,' the community of monks has no authority over it; it belongs to the community of nuns. If a probationer, monks... or a female novice, monks, as she is dying, should say this: 'After my passing, let my requisites belong to the Saṅgha,' the community of monks has no authority over it; it belongs to the community of nuns. If a monk, monks, as he is dying, should say this: