Vinaya — Regras das Monjas (Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga) — Inappropriate socializing

1Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the nuns who were the pupils of the nun Thullanandā were socializing and behaving badly, had a bad reputation, and were harassing the Sangha of nuns and hiding each other’s offenses.

2The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can nuns behave in this way?” … “Is it true, monks, that nuns are behaving like this?”

3“It’s true, sir.”

4The Buddha rebuked them … “How can nuns behave in this way? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

5Final ruling
‘If nuns socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses, then the nuns should correct them like this: “Sisters, you socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. Be secluded, venerables. The Sangha praises seclusion for the sisters.” If those nuns continue as before, the nuns should press them up to three times to make them stop. If they then stop, all is well. If they do not stop, then after the third announcement those nuns too have committed an offense entailing sending away and suspension.’”

6Definitions
Nuns:

7what is meant is that they are fully ordained.

8Socialize:

9they socialize with improper bodily and verbal action.

10Behave badly:

11having bad behavior.

12Have a bad reputation:

13a bad reputation has spread about them.

14Are notorious:

15they make a living by means of a bad and wrong livelihood.

16Harass the Sangha of nuns:

17they object on each other’s behalf when a legal procedure is being carried out against them.

18Hide each other’s offenses:

19they hide one another’s offenses.

20Them:

21those nuns who socialize.

22The nuns:

23other nuns who see it or hear about it. They should correct them like this:

24“Sisters, you socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. Be secluded, venerables. The Sangha praises seclusion for the sisters.”

25And they should correct them a second and a third time. If they stop, all is well. If they do not stop, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. If those who hear about it do not say anything, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

26Those nuns, even if they have to be pulled into the Sangha, should be corrected like this:

27“Sisters, you socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. Be secluded, venerables. The Sangha praises seclusion for the sisters.”

28They should correct them a second and a third time. If they stop, all is well. If they do not stop, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

29Should press them:

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

31‘Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The nuns so-and-so and so-and-so socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. And they keep on doing it. If the Sangha is ready, it should press the nuns so-and-so and so-and-so to make them stop. This is the motion.

32Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. The nuns so-and-so and so-and-so socialize, behave badly, have a bad reputation, are notorious, harass the Sangha of nuns, and hide each other’s offenses. And they keep on doing it. The Sangha presses the nuns so-and-so and so-and-so to make them stop. Any nun who approves of pressing the nuns so-and-so and so-and-so to make them stop should remain silent. Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up.

33For the second time, I speak on this matter. … For the third time, I speak on this matter. …

34The Sangha has pressed the nuns so-and-so and so-and-so to make them stop. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I will remember it thus.’”

35After the motion, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. After each of the first two announcements, they commit a serious offense. When the last announcement is finished, they commit an offense entailing suspension. For those who commit the offense entailing suspension, the offense of wrong conduct and the serious offenses are annulled. Two or three may be pressed together, but not more than that.

36Those nuns too:

37this is said with reference to the preceding offenses.

38After the third announcement:

39there is an offense when they have been pressed for the third time, not as soon as the misconduct has been committed.

40Entailing sending away:

41they are sent away from the Sangha.

42Suspension:

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

44Permutations
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and they perceive it as such, and they do not stop, they commit an offense entailing suspension. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but they are unsure of it, and they do not stop, they commit an offense entailing suspension. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but they perceive it as illegitimate, and they do not stop, they commit an offense entailing suspension.

45If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but they perceive it as legitimate, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but they are unsure of it, they commit an offense of wrong conduct. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and they perceive it as such, they commit an offense of wrong conduct.

46Non-offenses
There is no offense: if they have not been pressed; if they stop; if they are insane; if they are the first offenders.

47The twelfth offense entailing suspension is finished.