Lzh Dg Bu Pm 2 Pd 2Letting a Nun Order Food
Pāli / Sanskrit:Dutiyapāṭidesanīya
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Explanation of the Dutiyapāṭidesanīya
Allowing a Bhikkhunī to Order Food Herself
Background
Dutiyapāṭidesanīya, the second declaration, is a rule of the Bhikkhunī Vinaya in the Pāli Vinaya. This section belongs to the group of rules concerning the ethics and discipline of practice for the community of bhikkhunīs.
In the context of early Buddhist Dharma, the Vinaya was composed on the basis of rules laid down by the Buddha to maintain discipline, harmony among the community of monks and nuns, and the protection of the Dharma. These rules are not arbitrary commands, but principles of practice grounded in cause and effect (kamma and phala).
This discourse is especially concerned with autonomy, honesty, and the relationship between the bhikkhunī community and the lay community and the world outside monastic practice.
Main Content
The Dutiyapāṭidesanīya states that a bhikkhunī is permitted to order or request food herself from laypeople or others, but this must be done honestly and without violating the principles of monastic practice.
Specifically, a bhikkhunī must not take advantage of her position to steal, deceive, or abuse the trust of donors. When requesting or receiving food, she must observe the rules concerning mealtime, not eating after the permitted time, concerning types of food, not eating meat or harmful foods, and concerning the compassionate use of what is received.
This rule is also related to autonomy and personal responsibility. It is not the case that everything must be arranged for bhikkhunīs by bhikkhus or other people. The community of female monastics is given a certain autonomy, but this autonomy is accompanied by responsibility according to the discipline (vinaya).
Practical Meaning
The Dutiyapāṭidesanīya has deep significance regarding the balance between freedom and discipline in practice.
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