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Theravāda Vinaya
Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law
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Mahāvibhaṅga
The Great Analysis
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Pācittiyakaṇḍa
The chapter on offenses entailing confession
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Ovādavagga
The subchapter on the instruction
28. Nāvābhiruhanasikkhāpada
28. The training rule on boarding boats
Origin story
First sub-story
Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.
Tena kho pana samayena chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaṁ nāvaṁ abhiruhanti.
At that time the monks from the group of six were boarding boats by arrangement with nuns.
Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
People complained and criticized them,
“yatheva mayaṁ sapajāpatikā nāvāya kīḷāma, evamevime samaṇā sakyaputtiyā bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya nāvāya kīḷantī”ti.
“Just as we enjoy ourselves on boats with our wives, so these Sakyan monastics make arrangements with the nuns and then enjoy themselves on boats.”
Assosuṁ kho bhikkhū tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ.
The monks heard the complaints of those people,
Ye te bhikkhū appicchā …pe… te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—
and the monks of few desires complained and criticized those monks,
“kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhū bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaṁ nāvaṁ abhiruhissantī”ti …pe…
“How can the monks from the group of six board boats by arrangement with nuns?” …
“saccaṁ kira tumhe, bhikkhave, bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaṁ nāvaṁ abhiruhathā”ti?
“Is it true, monks, that you do this?”
“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
“It’s true, sir.”
Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…
The Buddha rebuked them …
kathañhi nāma tumhe, moghapurisā, bhikkhunīhi saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaṁ nāvaṁ abhiruhissatha.
“Foolish men, how can you do this?
Netaṁ, moghapurisā, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…
This will affect people’s confidence …” …
evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
“And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:
Preliminary ruling
“Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhuniyā saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaṁ nāvaṁ abhiruheyya, uddhaṅgāminiṁ vā adhogāminiṁ vā, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a monk boards a boat by arrangement with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”
Evañcidaṁ bhagavatā bhikkhūnaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ paññattaṁ hoti.
In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the monks.
Second sub-story
Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhū ca bhikkhuniyo ca sāketā sāvatthiṁ addhānamaggappaṭipannā honti.
Soon afterwards a number of monks and nuns were traveling from Sāketa to Sāvatthī.
Antarāmagge nadī taritabbā hoti.
On the way they needed to cross a river.
Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo te bhikkhū etadavocuṁ—
The nuns said to the monks,
“mayampi ayyehi saddhiṁ uttarissāmā”ti.
“Let’s cross together.”
“Na, bhaginī, kappati bhikkhuniyā saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaṁ nāvaṁ abhiruhituṁ;
“Sisters, it’s not allowable for us to board a boat by arrangement with a nun.
tumhe vā paṭhamaṁ uttaratha mayaṁ vā uttarissāmā”ti.
Either you cross first, or we will.”
“Ayyā, bhante, aggapurisā.
“You have the higher status, venerables.
Ayyāva paṭhamaṁ uttarantū”ti.
Please go first.”
Atha kho tāsaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ pacchā uttarantīnaṁ corā acchindiṁsu ca dūsesuñca.
But because the nuns crossed afterwards, they were robbed and raped by bandits.
Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo sāvatthiṁ gantvā bhikkhunīnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.
When they arrived at Sāvatthī they told the nuns there what had happened.
Bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.
The nuns then told the monks,
Bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ.
who in turn told the Buddha.
Atha kho bhagavā etasmiṁ nidāne etasmiṁ pakaraṇe dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—
Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:
“anujānāmi, bhikkhave, tiriyaṁ taraṇāya bhikkhuniyā saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaṁ nāvaṁ abhiruhituṁ.
“Monks, I allow you to board a boat by arrangement with a nun if it’s for the purpose of crossing.
Evañca pana, bhikkhave, imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddiseyyātha—
And so, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:
Final ruling
“Yo pana bhikkhu bhikkhuniyā saddhiṁ saṁvidhāya ekaṁ nāvaṁ abhiruheyya uddhaṅgāminiṁ vā adhogāminiṁ vā, aññatra tiriyaṁ taraṇāya, pācittiyan”ti.
‘If a monk boards a boat by arrangement with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, except for the purpose of crossing, he commits an offense entailing confession.’”
Definitions
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Yo panāti
A:
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yo yādiso …pe…
whoever …
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bhikkhūti
Monk:
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…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippeto bhikkhūti.
… 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.
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Bhikkhunī nāma
A nun:
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ubhatosaṅghe upasampannā.
she has been given the full ordination by both Sanghas.
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Saddhinti
With:
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ekato.
together.
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Saṁvidhāyāti
By arrangement:
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“abhiruhāma, bhagini, abhiruhāmāyya; abhiruhāmāyya, abhiruhāma, bhagini; ajja vā hiyyo vā pare vā abhiruhāmā”ti saṁvidahati āpatti dukkaṭassa.
if he makes an arrangement like this: he says, “Let’s board, Sister,” and she replies, “Yes, let’s board, venerable;” or she says, “Let’s board, venerable,” and he replies, “Yes, let’s board, Sister;” or he says, “Let’s board today,” “Let’s board tomorrow,” “Let’s board the day after tomorrow,” then he commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Bhikkhuniyā abhiruḷhe bhikkhu abhiruhati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the monk boards when the nun has already boarded, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Bhikkhumhi abhiruḷhe bhikkhunī abhiruhati, āpatti pācittiyassa. If the nun boards when the monk has already boarded, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Ubho vā abhiruhanti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If they both board together, he commits an offense entailing confession.
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Uddhaṅgāmininti
To go upstream:
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ujjavanikāya.
for the purpose of going against the stream.
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Adhogāmininti
To go downstream:
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ojavanikāya.
for the purpose of going with the stream.
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Aññatra tiriyaṁ taraṇāyāti
Except for the purpose of crossing:
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ṭhapetvā tiriyaṁ taraṇaṁ.
unless it is to go across.
Kukkuṭasampāte gāme, gāmantare gāmantare āpatti pācittiyassa.
When the inhabited areas are a chicken’s flight apart, then for every next inhabited area he commits an offense entailing confession.
Agāmake araññe, aḍḍhayojane aḍḍhayojane āpatti pācittiyassa.
When it is an uninhabited area, a wilderness, then for every six kilometers he commits an offense entailing confession.
Permutations
Saṁvidahite saṁvidahitasaññī ekaṁ nāvaṁ abhiruhati uddhaṅgāminiṁ vā adhogāminiṁ vā, aññatra tiriyaṁ taraṇāya, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If there is an arrangement, and he perceives that there is, and he boards a boat with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, except for the purpose of crossing, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Saṁvidahite vematiko ekaṁ nāvaṁ abhiruhati uddhaṅgāminiṁ vā adhogāminiṁ vā, aññatra tiriyaṁ taraṇāya, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If there is an arrangement, but he is unsure of it, and he boards a boat with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, except for the purpose of crossing, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Saṁvidahite asaṁvidahitasaññī ekaṁ nāvaṁ abhiruhati uddhaṅgāminiṁ vā adhogāminiṁ vā, aññatra tiriyaṁ taraṇāya, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If there is an arrangement, but he does not perceive that there is, and he boards a boat with a nun, either to go upstream or downstream, except for the purpose of crossing, he commits an offense entailing confession.
Bhikkhu saṁvidahati, bhikkhunī na saṁvidahati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If the monk makes an arrangement, but the nun does not express her agreement, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Asaṁvidahite saṁvidahitasaññī, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If there is no arrangement, but he perceives that there is, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Asaṁvidahite vematiko, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
If there is no arrangement, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.
Asaṁvidahite, asaṁvidahitasaññī, anāpatti.
If there is no arrangement, and he does not perceive that there is, there is no offense.
Non-offenses
Anāpatti—
There is no offense:
tiriyaṁ taraṇāya,
if it is for the purpose of crossing;
asaṁvidahitvā abhiruhanti,
if they board without an arrangement;
bhikkhunī saṁvidahati, bhikkhu na saṁvidahati,
if the nun has made an arrangement, but he has not expressed his agreement;
visaṅketena abhiruhanti,
if they board, but not according to the arrangement;
āpadāsu,
if there is an emergency;
ummattakassa,
if he is insane;
ādikammissāti.
if he is the first offender.
Nāvābhiruhanasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ aṭṭhamaṁ.
The training rule on boarding boats, the eighth, is finished.
