Vinaya — Regras das Monjas (Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga) — Accusing nuns of acting from bias

1Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the nun Caṇḍakāḷī was angry that she had had a legal issue decided against her, saying, “The nuns are acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear.”

2The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, “How can Venerable Caṇḍakāḷī say such things just because she’s angry that she has had a legal issue decided against her?” … “Is it true, monks, that the nun Caṇḍakāḷī says this because she’s angry?”

3“It’s true, sir.”

4The Buddha rebuked her … “How can the nun Caṇḍakāḷī say such things just because she’s angry that she has had a legal issue decided against her? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

5Final ruling
‘If a nun is angry because she has had a legal issue decided against her, saying, “The nuns are acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear,” then the nuns should correct her like this: “Venerable, just because you’re angry that you’ve had a legal issue decided against you, don’t say, ‘The nuns are acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear.’ Perhaps it’s you who are acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear.” If that nun continues as before, the nuns should press her up to three times to make her stop. If she then stops, all is well. If she does not stop, then after the third announcement that nun too has committed an offense entailing sending away and suspension.’”

6Definitions
A:

7whoever …

8Nun:

9… 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.

10A legal issue:

11there are four kinds of legal issues: legal issues arising from disputes, legal issues arising from accusations, legal issues arising from offenses, legal issues arising from business.

12Decided against:

13what is meant is that she has been defeated.

14Angry:

15discontent, having hatred, hostile.

16Saying:

17“The nuns are acting out of favoritism … and fear.”

18Her:

19that nun who speaks thus.

20The nuns:

21other nuns who see it or hear about it. They should correct her like this:

22“Venerable, just because you’re angry that you’ve had a legal issue decided against you, don’t say, ‘The nuns are acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear.’ Perhaps it’s you who are acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear.”

23And they should correct her a second and a third time. If she stops, all is well. If she does not stop, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If those who hear about it do not say anything, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

24That nun, even if she has to be pulled into the Sangha, should be corrected like this:

25“Venerable, just because you’re angry that you’ve had a legal issue decided against you, don’t say, ‘The nuns are acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear.’ Perhaps it’s you who are acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear.”

26They should correct her a second and a third time. If she stops, all is well. If she does not stop, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

27Should press her:

28“And, monks, she should be pressed like this. A competent and capable nun should inform the Sangha:

29‘Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The nun so-and-so, because she’s angry that she has had a legal issue decided against her, says this: “The nuns are acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear.” And she keeps on saying it. If the Sangha is ready, it should press the nun so-and-so to make her stop. This is the motion.

30Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The nun so-and-so, because she’s angry that she has had a legal issue decided against her, says this: “The nuns are acting out of favoritism, ill will, confusion, and fear.” And she keeps on saying it. The Sangha presses the nun so-and-so to make her stop. Any nun who approves of pressing the nun so-and-so to make her stop should remain silent. Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up.

31For the second time, I speak on this matter. … For the third time, I speak on this matter. …

32The Sangha has pressed the nun so-and-so to make her stop. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I will remember it thus.’”

33After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. After each of the first two announcements, she commits a serious offense. When the last announcement is finished, she commits an offense entailing suspension. For one who commits the offense entailing suspension, the offense of wrong conduct and the serious offenses are annulled.

34That too:

35this is said with reference to the preceding offenses.

36After the third announcement:

37there is an offense when she has been pressed for the third time, not as soon as the misconduct has been committed.

38Entailing sending away:

39she is sent away from the Sangha.

40Suspension:

41… Therefore, too, it is called an offense entailing suspension.

42Permutations
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing suspension. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing suspension. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she does not stop, she commits an offense entailing suspension.

43If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

44Non-offenses
There is no offense: if she has not been pressed; if she stops; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.

45The eleventh offense entailing suspension is finished.