San Sarv Bu Pm Tf 11 Pc 6Memorizing the Teaching

Explanation of the Padasodhamma Rule (Legal Rule Number Six)

Context

Padasodhamma is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Sutta Vibhaṅga section of the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, the code for bhikkhunīs. This discourse appears in the context of the Buddha establishing rules of conduct specifically for bhikkhunīs, in order to preserve the purity of the Bhikkhunī Sangha.

This rule concerns memorizing, learning, and transmitting the Dharma in class. The name "Padasodhamma" means "the Dharma of pure words" or "the pure rule concerning speech," reflecting its purpose: to ensure that bhikkhunīs who learn and teach the Dharma do so accurately, purely, and without error. This discourse is part of the Aniyata Dhamma, the indeterminate rules, a class of secondary rules that may be adjusted according to circumstances.

Main Content

The Padasodhamma rule chiefly concerns the memorization and transmission of scriptural collections (dhamma-sodhamma). It forbids bhikkhunīs from studying or asking others to teach them the Dharma without proper supervision or appropriate guidance from fully ordained bhikkhunīs.

More specifically, the Buddha’s teaching is transmitted in the Theravāda tradition through memorization (paripanna). Bhikkhunīs are not permitted to:

1. Study the Dharma on their own from sources that are not authentic or not approved by the Sangha, because this may lead to errors in memorization and the spread of distorted teachings.

2. Teach or transmit portions of scripture that the bhikkhunī has not clearly understood and accurately memorized, because this violates the spirit of preserving the Dharma in its purity.

This rule also applies to bhikkhunīs who are capable of teaching. They must ensure that their bhikkhunī pupils have mastered and deeply understood the scriptures before those students are permitted to teach others.