Bi Pc 11. The training rule on eating garlic

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on garlic 1. The training rule on eating garlic

Venerables, these one hundred and sixty-six rules on confession come up for recitation.

Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time a lay follower had invited the Sangha of nuns to ask for garlic: “If any of the nuns need garlic, I’ll supply it.” And he had told his field-keeper, “If the nuns come, give two or three bulbs to each nun.”

On that occasion they were holding a celebration in Sāvatthī, and the garlic was used up as soon as it arrived there. Just then the nuns went to that lay follower and said, “We need garlic.”

“Venerables, there isn’t any. As soon as the garlic arrives, it’s used up. Please go to the field.”

The nun Thullanandā went to the field, and not having any sense of moderation she took a large amount of garlic. The field-keeper complained and criticized them, “How could the nuns not have any sense of moderation and take a large amount of garlic?”

The nuns heard the complaints of that field-keeper, and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, “How could Venerable Thullanandā not have any sense of moderation and take a large amount of garlic?” … “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked her, “How could the nun Thullanandā not have any sense of moderation and take a large amount of garlic? This will affect people’s confidence …” … and after giving a teaching he addressed the monks:

Jataka

“Once upon a time, monks, Thullanandā was the wife of a brahmin. They had three daughters, Nandā, Nandavatī, and Sundarīnandā. When that brahmin eventually died, he was reborn as a goose, whose feathers were all made of gold. And he gave his former family members one feather at a time. Thullanandā considered this. She then grabbed hold of that king of geese and plucked him. But when his feathers regrew they were white. At that time too, monks, Thullanandā lost her gold because she was too greedy. Now she will lose her garlic.”

Then, after rebuking the nun Thullanandā in many ways, the Buddha spoke in dispraise of being difficult to support … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

‘If a nun eats garlic, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A: whoever … Nun: … The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case. Garlic: from Magadha is what is meant.

If she receives it with the intention of eating it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. For every mouthful swallowed, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it is garlic and she perceives it as such, and she eats it, she commits an offense entailing confession. If it is garlic, but she is unsure of it, and she eats it, she commits an offense entailing confession. If it is garlic, but she does not perceive it as such, and she eats it, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If it is not garlic, but she perceives it as such, and she eats it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not garlic, but she is unsure of it, and she eats it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not garlic and she does not perceive it as such, and she eats it, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if it is an onion; if it is a shallot; if it is chebulic myrobalan; if it is a spring onion; if it is cooked in a bean curry; if it is cooked with meat; if it is cooked with oil; if it is in sweets; if it is a special curry; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.

The training rule, the first, is finished.