Lzh Mg Bu Pm Pc 24Teaching Nuns for Profit
Pāli / Sanskrit:Āmisa
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Commentary on the Āmisa Sutta: Teaching Bhikkhunīs for Material Gain
Background
This sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pācittiya section of the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga—the rules of expiation (pācittiya) for bhikkhunīs. The Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of monastic regulations that the Buddha established to govern the community of bhikkhunīs, in order to safeguard the purity of the Sangha and to assist nuns in conducting their practice in accordance with the Dhamma.
The term "Āmisa" in the title of this sutta—meaning "material gain" or "exploitation"—refers to corrupt motivations in the teaching of the Dhamma. This sutta was formulated in the context of the Buddha observing that certain bhikkhunīs had begun teaching the Dhamma not out of compassion or for the purpose of liberation, but in order to obtain gain—receiving gifts, reverence, or renown.
Principal Content
The sutta stipulates that a bhikkhunī must not teach the Dhamma to another bhikkhunī with the intention of "material gain" (āmisādhimokkhaṁ). This constitutes a pācittiya offense—that is, a fault requiring confession before the Sangha.
Specifically, if a bhikkhunī teaches the Dhamma with the desire to receive gifts, food, clothing, lodging, or any form of material benefit or honor, this constitutes a violation. The offense is examined carefully: the factors determining the nature of the transgression include the motivation (intention), the object (the person being taught), the action (the act of teaching), and the outcome (whether material gain is actually received or not).
An important distinction is that if a bhikkhunī receives gain without having previously desired it, or teaches without a motivation for gain, this does not constitute a violation. This rule places emphasis on the purity of the motivating intention—"cetanā" is the determining factor according to the Dhamma.
Practical Significance
This sutta teaches that the Dhamma is a spiritual treasure, not to be negotiated or traded as ordinary merchandise.
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