Vinaya — Regras das Monjas (Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga) — Unstitching a robe

1Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time a robe belonging to a certain nun had been badly made and badly sewn from expensive robe-cloth. The nun Thullanandā said to her, “Venerable, this robe-cloth is beautiful, but the robe has been badly made and badly sewn.”

2“If I unstitch it, will you sew it back together?”

3“Sure.”

4Then that nun unstitched the robe and gave it to Thullanandā. Yet although Thullanandā repeatedly said she would sew it, she neither sewed it herself nor did she make any effort to have someone else do it.

5That nun then told the nuns what had happened. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized Thullanandā, “How could Venerable Thullanandā have a nun’s robe unstitched, and then neither sew it herself nor make any effort to have someone else do it?” … “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?”

6“It’s true, sir.”

7The Buddha rebuked her … “How could the nun Thullanandā act like this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

8Final ruling
‘If a nun, after unstitching a nun’s robe or having it unstitched, neither sews it herself nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it, and there were no obstacles, then, except if it was no more than four or five days, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

9Definitions
A:

10whoever …

11Nun:

12… 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.

13A nun’s:

14another nun’s.

15Robe:

16one of the six kinds of robes.

17Unstitching:

18she unstitches it herself.

19Having it unstitched:

20she has someone else unstitch it.

21And there were no obstacles:

22when there is no obstacle.

23She neither sews:

24she does not sew it herself.

25Nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it:

26she does not ask anyone else.

27Except if it was no more than four or five days:

28unless it was no more than four or five days.

29If she thinks, “I’ll neither sew it nor make any effort to have someone else sew it,” then by the mere fact of abandoning her duty, she commits an offense entailing confession.

30Permutations
If the other person is fully ordained, and she perceives her as such, and she unstitches her robe or has it unstitched, and then neither sews it herself nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it, and there were no obstacles, then, except if it was no more than four or five days, she commits an offense entailing confession. If the other person is fully ordained, but she is unsure of it, and she unstitches her robe or has it unstitched, and then neither sews it herself nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it, and there were no obstacles, then, except if it was no more than four or five days, she commits an offense entailing confession. If the other person is fully ordained, but she does not perceive her as such, and she unstitches her robe or has it unstitched, and then neither sews it herself nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it, and there were no obstacles, then, except if it was no more than four or five days, she commits an offense entailing confession.

31If she unstitches another requisite or has it unstitched, and then neither sews it herself nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it, and there were no obstacles, then, except if it was no more than four or five days, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the other person is not fully ordained, and she unstitches her robe or another requisite, or has it unstitched, and then neither sews it herself nor makes any effort to have someone else sew it, and there were no obstacles, then, except if it was no more than four or five days, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

32If the other person is not fully ordained, but she perceives her as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the other person is not fully ordained, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the other person is not fully ordained, and she does not perceive her as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

33Non-offenses
There is no offense: if there is an obstacle; if she searches for someone to sew, but does not find anyone; if she is doing it, but she takes longer than four or five days; if she is sick; if there is an emergency; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.

34The third training rule is finished.