Vinaya — Regras dos Monges (Bhikkhu Vibhaṅga) — Sewing a robe for a nun

1Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time Venerable Udāyī had become skilled in making robes. On one occasion a certain nun went to Udāyī and said to him, “Venerable, would you please sew me a robe?”

2He then sewed a robe for that nun, well-dyed and beautifully made, and he drew a picture in the middle of it. He then folded it and put it aside. Soon afterwards that nun went to Udāyī and said, “Sir, where’s the robe?”

3“Now, sister, take this robe as it’s folded and put it aside. When the Sangha of nuns goes to the instruction, then put it on and follow right behind the other nuns.”

4And that nun did just that. People complained and criticized her, “How indecent these nuns are, what shameless scoundrels, in drawing pictures on their robes!”

5The nuns asked her, “Who did this?”

6“Venerable Udāyī.”

7“This sort of work would not even make an indecent, shameless scoundrel look good, let alone Venerable Udāyī.”

8The nuns told the monks, and the monks of few desires complained and criticized him, “How could Venerable Udāyī sew a robe for a nun?” … “Is it true, Udāyī, that you did this?”

9“It’s true, sir.”

10“Is she a relative of yours?”

11“No.”

12“Foolish man, a man and a woman who are unrelated don’t know what’s appropriate and inappropriate, what’s inspiring and uninspiring, in dealing with each other. And still you did this. This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

13Final ruling
‘If a monk sews a robe for an unrelated nun, or has one sewn, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”

14Definitions
A:

15whoever …

16Monk:

17… The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case.

18Unrelated:

19anyone who is not a descendant of one’s male ancestors going back eight generations, either on the mother’s side or on the father’s side.

20A nun:

21she has been given the full ordination by both Sanghas.

22A robe:

23one of the six kinds of robes.

24Sews:

25if he sews it himself, then for each stitch he commits an offense entailing confession.

26Has sewn:

27if he asks another, he commits an offense entailing confession. If he only asks once, then even if the other sews a lot, he commits one offense entailing confession.

28Permutations
If she is unrelated and he perceives her as such, and he sews her a robe or has one sewn, he commits an offense entailing confession. If she is unrelated, but he is unsure of it, and he sews her a robe or has one sewn, he commits an offense entailing confession. If she is unrelated, but he perceives her as related, and he sews her a robe or has one sewn, he commits an offense entailing confession.

29If he sews a robe, or has one sewn, for a nun who is fully ordained only on one side, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If she is related, but he perceives her as unrelated, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If she is related, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If she is related and he perceives her as such, there is no offense.

30Non-offenses
There is no offense: if she is related; if he sews any requisite apart from a robe, or has it sewn; if it is a trainee nun; if it is a novice nun; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

31The training rule on sewing a robe for a nun, the sixth, is finished.