Theravāda Vinayapiṭaka

Nuns’ rules and their analysis

Nuns’ Forfeiture (Nissaggiya) 8

… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time nuns dwelling in cells belonging to a certain guild were going short of conjey. Then that guild, having made a voluntary collection for conjey for the nuns, having laid aside what was necessary in a certain shop-keeper’s house, having approached the nuns, spoke thus: “Ladies, in such and such a shopkeeper’s house what is necessary for conjey is laid aside. Having had husked rice brought from there, having had the conjey boiled, make use of it.”

The nuns, having got medicine in exchange for what was necessary, made use of it. Then that guild, having found out … spread it about, saying: “How can these nuns get something in exchange for what was necessary (and) appointed for another thing, destined for another thing, belonging to a company?”

“Is it true, as is said, monks, that nuns got something in exchange … belonging to a company?”

“It is true, lord.”

The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them, saying: “How, monks, can nuns get something in exchange … belonging to a company? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … this rule of training:

Whatever nun should get something in exchange for what was necessary (and) appointed for another thing, destined for another thing, belonging to a company, there is an offence of expiation involving forfeiture.”


Whatever means: … nun is to be understood in this case.

For what was necessary (and) appointed for another thing, destined for another thing means: for what was given for another thing.

Belonging to a company means: it is for a group, not for an Order, not for one nun.

Should get something in exchange means: see Bi-NP.6.2.1Bi-NP.6.2.3. Instead of belonging to an Order read belonging to a company … if she is the first wrong-doer.