San Sarv Bu Pm Tf 11 Pc 23Teaching Nuns for Profit

Explanation of the Āmisa Sutta (Teaching Nuns for Gain)

Context

The Āmisa Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, the recited code for nuns. These are monastic regulations established by the Buddha to protect the quality and honor of the community of monks and nuns, especially to prevent the emergence of improper behaviors that could harm the Buddha Dharma.

The word “Āmisa” in Pāli means “material things or temporary benefits”—including money, food, clothing, and other material gains. This sutta refers to the situation in which nuns teach the Buddha Dharma not for a noble purpose, but for gain, receiving material rewards or wealth.

Main Content

In the context of the early community of monks and nuns, the regulations in the Vinaya Piṭaka were not merely formal discipline, but also lessons concerning the mind. The Āmisa Sutta reminds us that teaching the Dharma for gain (āmisa) is conduct unsuitable to the status of a monastic. In particular, when nuns exploit the Buddha Dharma as a tool for earning profit, it directly violates the spirit of practice—that is, the renunciation of craving for temporary values.

The Vinaya Piṭaka points out that teaching the Dharma must arise from compassion (mettā), from the wish to liberate beings, and not from self-interested motives. If a nun teaches the Dharma for money or other gains, this is greed (lobha) obscuring the mind, and it will diminish the value of the teaching as well as have a negative impact on the listeners.

The related regulations generally encourage monastics to teach the Dharma voluntarily, without expecting reward. If necessary requisites are received, such as food or robes, this too must be regarded as natural support from the lay community, not as the main purpose of teaching.