Mpt Pc 22Instructing Nuns After Sunset
Pāli / Sanskrit:Atthaṅgata
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Explanation of the Atthaṅgata Sutta (Mpt Pc 22)
Instructing Nuns After Sunset
Background
The Atthaṅgata Sutta belongs to the Pāli Canon, specifically the Vinaya Piṭaka, the legal and disciplinary division of the Sangha. In the earliest period of the Buddha-Dharma, the Buddha established training prohibitions (sekkha rules) to govern the community of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. These regulations did not arise from arbitrariness, but from specific situations in the reality of communal practice.
This discourse records a rule related to nuns receiving instruction from bhikkhus after the time of sunset. The historical context shows that the Buddha issued prohibitions in order to maintain the discipline of practice, protect the honor of the Sangha, and avoid misunderstandings from the outside society. In ancient Indian society, activities after sunset, especially meetings between men and women, could easily give rise to suspicion and criticism.
Main Content
The twenty-second prohibition in the Pātimokkha, the rules of training for nuns, stipulates that nuns are not permitted to receive instruction (atthaṅgata) from bhikkhus after the sun has set. The word “Atthaṅgata” (atta-aṅgata) means “teachings” or “guidance,” understood in the context of learning and practicing the Buddha-Dharma.
This rule does not deny the value of study or guidance. Rather, it establishes practical boundaries for the method of education within the religious community. The time after sunset is regarded as a time for quiet and chanting, part of the daily course of practice. In addition, avoiding male-female interactions at night strengthens public trust in the purity of the Sangha.
Exceptions are also clearly recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka, allowing instruction in emergencies or when there is attestation from the community.
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