Bi Pc 6969. Not following a mentor
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pavattinī-nānubandhana
A nun who does not follow her preceptor for two years must confess the offense.
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Scripture on Not Following One's Preceptor — Bhikkhunī Pc 69
Background
This rule is recorded in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha (the code of discipline for nuns), in the Pācittiya section, or "offenses requiring confession." It reflects a significant historical period of the bhikkhunī Sangha during the time of the Buddha Śākyamuni, when the Buddhist community had just been established and it was necessary to put in place training structures to maintain discipline, virtue, and the continuity of the practice tradition.
During this period, the relationship between a preceptor (upajjhāyā) and her pupil was central to the process of a bhikkhunī's training. The preceptor not only transmitted knowledge of the Vinaya, but also guided the student step by step, corrected her mistakes, and nurtured her spiritual development. For this reason, failure to follow one's preceptor was regarded as an act of disrespect toward the tradition of practice and a threat to the harmony of the bhikkhunī community.
Main Content
The rule of Pavattinī-nānubandhana states clearly: if a bhikkhunī does not follow her preceptor (pavattinī, the guiding teacher) for two consecutive years, she has committed a Pācittiya offense and must confess it.
"Not following" (nānubandhana) here is not simply a matter of physical absence. Rather, it refers to the refusal to comply with the guidance, counsel, and legitimate instructions of the preceptor. A bhikkhunī may be physically near her preceptor and yet still be "not following" if she deliberately disregards her teachings or refuses to carry out valid instructions within the Sangha.
The period of two years is clearly defined — this is a sufficient length of time to make evident a deliberate failure to comply. If the community discovers such conduct, the bhikkhunī must perform the pācittiya act, that is, confess the offense before the assembled bhikkhunīs as witnesses. This is a lighter offense than the garuddhamma transgressions (the major offenses), yet it still requires immediate remedy so that the unity of the Sangha may be preserved.
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