Bi Pc 3030. Blocking the ending of the robe season
Pāli / Sanskrit:Kathinuddhāra
A nun who inappropriately blocks the Order from ending the robe-making season must confess the offense.
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Bi Pc 30: Blocking the Ending of the Robe Season
Background
This rule appears in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha (the Pali Prātimokṣa for bhikkhunīs — nuns), in the Pācittiya section of the Theravāda Vinaya Piṭaka. The historical context concerns the governance of communal property within the early Buddhist Saṅgha.
The Kaṭhina season is the period following the Vassa (the three-month rains retreat) during which Buddhist communities prepare and offer robes to monastics. During this period, the Saṅgha is permitted to receive gifts under special provisions, and these benefits are shared equitably. The conclusion of the Kaṭhina season marks the point at which these privileges cease to apply.
This rule came into being when certain bhikkhunīs intentionally obstructed the conclusion of the Kaṭhina season — possibly in order to prolong the period of receiving requisites, or for other personal reasons — thereby causing inequity for other bhikkhunīs and disrupting the harmony of the Saṅgha.
Main Content
According to Bi Pc 30, if a bhikkhunī, knowing that the Saṅgha wishes to conclude the Kaṭhina season, intentionally obstructs or opposes this, such an act is regarded as a Pācittiya offense. Pācittiya (from Pali, meaning "to be confessed") is a class of offense lighter than Saṅghādisesa, yet still requiring a formal public confession before the Saṅgha.
The pivotal element in this rule is the intentionality and awareness of the offender. If a bhikkhunī has legitimate grounds for proposing an extension of the Kaṭhina season — for instance, in order to complete the making of robes for bhikkhunīs who have not yet received theirs — this does not constitute an offense. However, if she deliberately obstructs the Saṅgha's decision out of self-interest or a desire to cause disruption, she must confess this transgression.
This rule underscores the democratic character and transparency of Saṅgha governance. Every decision of the community must be respected, and no individual holds personal authority to overturn a decision that has already been reached by consensus.
Practical Significance
Bi Pc 30 teaches us an important lesson concerning adherence to collective regulations and respect for the decisions of the community.
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