San Mu Kd 18bNuns
Pāli / Sanskrit:Bhikkhunī
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THE SŪTRA ON NUNS (BHIKKHUNĪ)
Extracted from the Vinaya Piṭaka, Sanghādisesa Khandaka 18b
Background
Bhikkhunī, a female renunciant on the path, is one of the four basic Buddhist assemblies established by the Buddha Gotama in the course of spreading the Dharma. This section of the Vinaya Piṭaka records historical developments and decisions related to the establishment of the fourfold assembly, especially the Bhikkhunī Sangha, the community of nuns.
According to early Theravāda materials, the Buddha initially did not intend to establish an independent order of nuns. However, because of the request of women practitioners, especially Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, the Buddha’s foster mother and aunt, and through the intervention of Ānanda, the Buddha’s beloved disciple, he accepted. The initial conditions set forth were quite strict, intended to protect against the dangers of desire, a challenge within monastic life.
Main Content
The Bhikkhunī Sūtra in the Sanghādisesa Khandaka records the rules (Pāṭimokkha) and guidelines for conduct that nuns must observe. These regulations include that bhikkhunīs must follow senior male monastics (bhikkhus) in matters related to the Sangha, as well as rules concerning dress, comportment, and social communication.
In particular, this sūtra emphasizes the first eight weighty rules (Aṭṭha Garudhamma) that nuns must observe to maintain unity and discipline. These rules include: a nun, even after many years of virtuous practice, must pay respect to a young bhikkhu; nuns may not establish a separate Sangha independently; every seven days, nuns must learn the Dharma from bhikkhus; major offenses must be judged by a Sangha consisting of both monastic communities.
These regulations did not arise from gender discrimination, but from the social context of ancient India and the need to protect the Sangha from external criticism. The Vinaya texts also record suitable clothing and daily requisites for nuns, rules for communication with male monastics, and teachings on mental concentration.
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