San Sarv Bu Pm Tf 11 Np 17Getting a Nun to Wash Wool

Eḷakalomadhovāpana Sutta — On Asking a Nun to Wash Wool

Background

This text lies in the Vinaya Pitaka, especially the Pātimokkha section of the Bhikkhuni Vinaya, which is the collection of ethical regulations for bhikkhunis. The background of this text arose when the Buddha and his disciples were living in various monasteries and situations of rule violation continually occurred.

This story concerns a bhikkhuni being asked to perform washing or material processing work, specifically wool (eḷa = sheep; loma = wool; dhovāpana = washing, cleaning). This is not ordinary work in the monastery, but an action that may contain inappropriate motives or obstruct practice. The Vinaya Pitaka records that the Buddha urgently prohibited such conduct in order to protect the integrity and ethical appearance of the community of monks and nuns.

Main Content

This rule arises from the need to protect bhikkhunis from situations that may be misunderstood or may adversely affect practice. When a bhikkhuni is asked to wash wool for someone, whether voluntarily or under pressure, this may give rise to three main problems: first, it may lead to inappropriate contact with people who are not monastics; second, such worldly work may turn the concentrated mind away from the practice of bodhi or holy purity; third, it violates the principle of not serving those outside the path unnecessarily.

The text stipulates that a bhikkhuni should not personally accept the task of washing wool or similar materials for anyone, whoever may ask. If such a request is made, the bhikkhuni must refuse politely but firmly, and report to the preceptor (ācariya) or other senior bhikkhunis if she is pressured. This is one of the prohibitions (nissaggiya pācittiya or similar) that bhikkhunis must observe.