Bi Pc 7979. Ordaining one who is difficult to live with
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sokāvāsa
A nun who ordains a trainee nun who socializes inappropriately and is difficult to live with must confess the offense.
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Commentary on Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 79 (Sokāvāsa)
Vinaya Piṭaka — Theravāda Tradition
Background
Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 79, also known as Sokāvāsa, is found within the Pātimokkha (the foundational code of discipline) of the bhikkhunīs, in the section governing offences requiring confession (Pācittiya). Pācittiya offences are of a moderate nature, requiring the offender to make a public confession before two or more bhikkhunīs in order to be cleared.
The historical context of this rule originates from the time of the Buddha Gotama, when the Saṅgha was growing and required legal regulations to maintain discipline, particularly in the management of training for newly admitted practitioners. Bhikkhunīs bore responsibility for selecting and training sikkhamānās (probationary nuns), yet not every person was suited to the collective life of the monastic community. The rule of Sokāvāsa therefore sets forth clear standards for selecting candidates to be trained.
Main Content
This rule stipulates that a bhikkhunī is not permitted to confer ordination upon a sikkhamānā if that person possesses a disagreeable character or is difficult to live with in community, particularly when she exhibits social conduct that is improper (sokāvāsa, meaning "difficult in social relations, hard to dwell with").
The signs of a person who is difficult to live with in community include: unwillingness to follow instruction, habitual engagement in conduct unbecoming of a monastic (associating with unsuitable persons), or an unstable temperament that adversely affects the harmony of the community. If any bhikkhunī confers ordination upon such a person without thorough investigation, she commits a Pācittiya offence and must make a public confession.
This regulation reflects the principle of protecting the Saṅgha: not just anyone may enter the monastery and become a bhikkhunī. The one who confers ordination bears the responsibility of verifying that the candidate genuinely aspires to the practice and is prepared to live in harmony with the community, rather than acting to satisfy personal interests or to shelter those who are unsuitable. This rule underscores the foundational role of selecting the right persons in maintaining the health and integrity of the Saṅgha.
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