Bu Pc 2222. Instructing nuns after sunset
Pāli / Sanskrit:Atthaṅgata
A monk who teaches the nuns after sunset must confess the offense.
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COMMENTARY ON THE ATTHAṄGATA SUTTA (Bu Pc 22)
Background
The Atthaṅgata rule belongs to the Pātimokkha (Pāli: Pāṭimokkha) — the foundational code of discipline within the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition. Specifically, it is a rule belonging to the Pācittiya section (Pāli: Pācittiya), offenses requiring acknowledgment and public confession before the community of bhikkhus.
The historical context of this rule lies in the early period of the Buddhist Sangha, when bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs still resided in the same locality or in close proximity to one another. The Buddha established detailed precepts in order to maintain discipline, protect the honor of the Sangha, and establish trust within the community of lay followers (upāsakas and upāsikās).
Main Content
The Atthaṅgata rule stipulates that: if a bhikkhu teaches the Dhamma (dhamma-desanā) to bhikkhunīs after the sun has set (rattiyaṁ atthaṅgatāya), that is, during the night, he incurs a Pācittiya offense requiring confession.
The word "Atthaṅgata" (Pāli: a-ttha-ṅ-gata) means "the sun has set," indicating the period after sunset. In the context of early Buddhist practice, this time restriction was not arbitrary. It reflects concerns regarding:
(1) The importance of disciplinary boundaries: Teaching bhikkhunīs after dark could easily give rise to suspicions, misunderstandings, or ambiguous situations capable of affecting the honor of the Sangha.
(2) The autonomy of bhikkhunīs: Bhikkhunīs have the right to receive instruction in the Dhamma, but this must occur under clearly defined conditions in order to avoid unnecessary complications.
(3) The governance of the monastic community: Establishing clear time boundaries helps prevent situations that could be misinterpreted or cause disorder in the administration of the Sangha.
This offense is classified as Pācittiya, a category less serious than Saṅghādisesa offenses (which require formal reconciliation by the Sangha) or Pārājika offenses (which entail expulsion).
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