Lzh Mu Bi Vb Pc 127Going to the Instruction

Explanation of the Ovādūpasaṅkamana Sutta (Going to Receive Instruction)

Background

This sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the regulations concerning monks and nuns. The setting occurs when the Buddha was living at Sāvatthī, the central city of Kosala. This was a period when the Buddhadharma was developing strongly, and the number of monks and nuns increased rapidly, leading to the need for clear instructions on how to receive teaching from venerable teachers.

This content is directly related to maintaining the discipline of the bhikkhunī Sangha and ensuring that nuns who uphold the discipline are treated properly when seeking instruction from elders. This is not merely an administrative rule, but an expression of respect and harmonious happiness (samaggī) in the community of those gone forth.

Main Content

“Ovādūpasaṅkamana” is translated as “going to receive instruction,” referring to the act of a nun when she needs to approach a teacher, or a female teacher, to receive teaching or guidance in the Dharma. The sutta defines the proper procedure and conduct in this situation.

According to the Theravāda tradition, when a nun needs to receive ovāda, instruction, she must do so with an attitude of reverence. This is not only a matter of ceremony but also an expression of sincere aspiration for the Dharma (dhamma-chanda). Instruction from venerable teachers is regarded as vital on the journey toward liberation; therefore, the process of receiving it must be carried out with care and mindfulness.

The sutta states clearly the conditions and manner by which a nun may come to receive instruction in accordance with the Dharma, ensuring that there is no difficulty caused and no lack of respect. This is also a way to maintain the spirit of voluntary discipline in the Sangha, not through compulsion but through self-awareness and wisdom.