Lzh Dg Bi Vb Ss 16Renouncing the Training

– FOUR-PART VINAYA

– SAṄGHĀDISESA

16. THREATENING TO LEAVE THE TRAINING

A. ORIGIN

At one time, the Buddha was dwelling in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the group of six bhikkhunīs, on account of a trivial matter, became angry and displeased, and then spoke thus: "I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Dharma, I renounce the Saṅgha. It is not only the śramaṇas, disciples of the Śākyan, who exist; there are also other śramaṇa-brāhmaṇas who practice the holy life. We too can go there to practice the holy life."

At that time, the bhikkhunīs heard this, and among them were those who were of few desires, who knew contentment, who practiced the ascetic virtues, who delighted in learning the precepts, who knew shame and remorse. They reproached the group of six bhikkhunīs: "Why do you, on account of a trivial matter, become angry and displeased, and then say: 'I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Dharma, I renounce the Saṅgha. It is not only the śramaṇas, disciples of the Śākyan, who exist; there are also other śramaṇa-brāhmaṇas who practice the holy life. We too can go there to practice the holy life'?"

The bhikkhunīs reported the matter to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this matter, assembled the community of bhikkhus and rebuked the group of six bhikkhunīs:

"Why do you, on account of a trivial matter, become angry and displeased, and then say: 'I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Dharma, I renounce the Saṅgha. It is not only the śramaṇas, disciples of the Śākyan, who exist; there are also other śramaṇa-brāhmaṇas who practice the holy life. We too can go there to practice the holy life'?"

After rebuking the group of six bhikkhunīs with countless skillful means, the Blessed One instructed the bhikkhus:

The Saṅgha is permitted to administer a motion of censure to the group of six bhikkhunīs, to cause them to relinquish this matter, by means of a formal act with one motion and three announcements (ñatti-catuttha-kamma). The censure should be administered as follows. Within the assembly, one who is capable of carrying out the formal act should, in accordance with the matter at hand, make the following motion:

"Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen! This group of six bhikkhunīs, on account of a trivial matter, becoming angry and displeased, hastily said: 'I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Dharma, I renounce the Saṅgha. It is not only the śramaṇas, disciples of the Śākyan, who exist; there are also other śramaṇa-brāhmaṇas who practice the holy life; we too can go there to practice the holy life.' If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, let the Saṅgha now administer a formal act of censure to the group of six bhikkhunīs, to cause them to relinquish this matter, saying: 'Sisters, you should not, on account of a trivial matter, become angry and displeased and then say: "I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Dharma, I renounce the Saṅgha.

It is not only the śramaṇas, disciples of the Śākyan, who exist; there are also other śramaṇa-brāhmaṇas who practice the holy life; we too can go there to practice the holy life."' This is the motion.

"Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen! This group of six bhikkhunīs, on account of a trivial matter, becoming angry and displeased, hastily said: 'I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Dharma, I renounce the Saṅgha. It is not only the śramaṇas, disciples of the Śākyan, who exist; there are also other śramaṇa-brāhmaṇas who practice the holy life; we too can go there to practice the holy life.' The Saṅgha now administers a formal act of censure to this group of six bhikkhunīs, to cause them to relinquish this matter, saying: 'Venerable Sisters, you should not, on account of a trivial matter, become angry and displeased, and hastily say: "I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Dharma, I renounce the Saṅgha.

It is not only the śramaṇas, disciples of the Śākyan, who exist; there are also other śramaṇa-brāhmaṇas who practice the holy life; we too can go there to practice the holy life."' Those venerable sisters who consent to the Saṅgha's administration of a formal act of censure to the group of six bhikkhunīs, to cause them to relinquish this matter, should remain silent. Those who do not consent should speak. This is the first announcement." (The second and third announcements are made in the same manner.)

"The Saṅgha has consented to administer a formal act of censure to the group of six bhikkhunīs, to cause them to relinquish this matter. The Saṅgha's consent is signified by silence. This matter is thus recorded."

After the Saṅgha had administered a formal act of censure to the group of six bhikkhunīs by means of a formal act with one motion and three announcements, causing them to relinquish this matter, the bhikkhunīs reported this to the bhikkhus. The bhikkhus went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One instructed the bhikkhus:

"If there is any bhikkhunī who acts in such a way, the Saṅgha should likewise administer a formal act of censure by means of a formal act with one motion and three announcements.

"From this day forward, I shall lay down a training rule for the bhikkhunīs, comprising ten bases of meaning, up to and including the phrase 'for the long endurance of the true Dharma.'"

The precept should be proclaimed as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī, on account of a trivial matter, becoming angry and displeased, hastily says: 'I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Dharma, I renounce the Saṅgha. It is not only the śramaṇas, disciples of the Śākyan, who exist; there are also other śramaṇa-brāhmaṇas who practice the holy life. We too can go there to practice the holy life'—the bhikkhunīs should admonish that bhikkhunī, saying: 'Venerable Sister, do not, on account of a trivial matter, become angry and displeased, and hastily say: "I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Dharma, I renounce the Saṅgha.

It is not only the śramaṇas, disciples of the Śākyan, who exist; there are also other śramaṇa-brāhmaṇas who practice the holy life. We too can go there to practice the holy life."' When the bhikkhunīs admonish her and that bhikkhunī persists and does not relinquish the matter, the bhikkhunīs should admonish her three times to cause her to relinquish it. Up to three admonitions: if she relinquishes it, that is good.

If she does not relinquish it, the bhikkhunī commits a saṅghādisesa requiring rehabilitation, of the three grades.

B. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENSE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

If a bhikkhunī, on account of a trivial matter, becoming angry and displeased, hastily says: 'I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Dharma, I renounce the Saṅgha. It is not only the śramaṇas, disciples of the Śākyan, who exist; there are also other śramaṇa-brāhmaṇas who practice the holy life; we too can go there to practice the holy life'—a bhikkhunī should admonish that bhikkhunī: "Venerable Sister! Do not, on account of a trivial matter, become angry and displeased, and hastily say: 'I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Dharma, I renounce the Saṅgha.

It is not only the śramaṇas, disciples of the Śākyan, who exist; there are also other śramaṇa-brāhmaṇas who practice the holy life; we too can go there to practice the holy life.' You should relinquish this matter lest the Saṅgha rebuke you and you commit a grave offense."

If she heeds this, that is good. If not, the motion should be made. Having made the motion, one should say: "I have made the motion; there are still the formal announcements. You should relinquish this matter, lest the Saṅgha rebuke you and you commit a grave offense."

If she heeds this, that is good. If not, the first formal announcement should be made. Having made the first formal announcement, one should say: "I have made the motion and the first formal announcement; there are still two more formal announcements. You should relinquish this matter, lest the Saṅgha rebuke you and you commit a grave offense."

If she heeds this, that is good. If not, the second formal announcement should be made. After making the second formal announcement, one should likewise say: "I have made the motion and two formal announcements; there is still one more formal announcement. You should relinquish this matter, lest the Saṅgha rebuke you and again commit a grave offense."

If she heeds this, that is good. If not, after the third formal announcement is made, she commits a saṅghādisesa. If she relinquishes it after the second formal announcement is completed, she commits three thullaccayas.

If she relinquishes it after the first formal announcement is completed, she commits two thullaccayas. If she relinquishes it after the motion is completed, she commits one thullaccaya. If she relinquishes it before the motion is completed, a dukkaṭa.

Before the motion has been made, if on account of a trivial matter she became angry and displeased, and hastily said: "I renounce the Buddha, I renounce the Dharma, I renounce the Saṅgha. It is not only the śramaṇas, disciples of the Śākyan, who exist; there are also other śramaṇa-brāhmaṇas who practice the holy life. We too can go there to practice the holy life"—all such instances constitute a dukkaṭa offense.

For a bhikkhu: a dukkaṭa. For a sikkhāmāna, a sāmaṇera, or a sāmaṇerī: a dukkaṭa. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if one immediately relinquishes it upon first saying it. Or if the censure was administered by an irregular separate assembly, an irregular combined assembly, a regular separate assembly, a quasi-regular separate assembly, or a quasi-regular combined assembly. If the censure was given contrary to the Vinaya and not in accordance with the Buddha's teaching. Or if no formal act of censure was carried out at all. In all such cases there is no offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who offends for the first time before the rule was promulgated; one who is insane, one whose mind is deranged, one who is afflicted with pain, one who is overwhelmed by suffering.

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Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. FOUR-PART VINAYA, PART ONE.

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng.

(Chinese translation, fascicles 1–21; Vietnamese translation, fascicles 1 and 2)

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002.