BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Buddhist Monastic Code 1received only her first ordination, from the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha, is grounds for adukkaṭa, while female trainees and female novices are not grounds for an offense.Effort. One exhorts the bhikkhunī(s) about the eight rules or any other Dhamma afterthe sun has set. Perception as to whether the sun has actually set is not amitigating factor here (see Pc 4).Non-offenses. Although the origin story suggests that it is unwise in any case toteach bhikkhunīs after sunset — because of the suspicions that such an action mayprovoke — the non-offense clauses give more respect to the bhikkhunīs' desire forinstruction than to the fear of gossiping lay people. As under the preceding rule, abhikkhu may recite for the bhikkhunīs after sunset if, after he has given them theexposition and interrogation, they request that he recite. He also incurs no offenseif he teaches any topic of Dhamma after sunset in response to a bhikkhunī'squestion, or if a bhikkhunī after sunset happens to overhear any instruction he isgiving for the sake of another person.Summary: Exhorting bhikkhunīs on any topic at all after sunset — except when theyrequest it — is a pācittiya offense.23. Should any bhikkhu, having gone to the bhikkhunīs' quarters,exhort the bhikkhunīs — except at the proper occasion — it is to beconfessed. Here the proper occasion is this: A bhikkhunī is ill. This isthe proper occasion here.Here again there are two factors for the full offense:Object: a bhikkhunī who is not ill. Ill means that she is unable to go to anexhortation or to an "affiliation" (saṃvāsa), which the New K/Sub-commentarydefines as a Community meeting such as the uposatha.As with the preceding rule, a bhikkhunī or group of bhikkhunīs who have receivedthe double ordination are grounds for a pācittiya here. A bhikkhunī who has receivedonly her first ordination, from the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha, is grounds for a dukkaṭa, whilefemale trainees and female novices are not grounds for an offense.Effort. One goes to her residence — any place where a bhikkhunī has spent at leastone night — and exhorts her concerning the eight rules of respect. Exhorting herabout any other topic is grounds for a dukkaṭa. Perception with regard to her statusas ordained is not a mitigating factor here (see Pc 4).Non-offenses. As the rule states, there is no offense for the bhikkhu who goes tothe bhikkhunīs' quarters to exhort an ill bhikkhunī. Otherwise, the non-offenseclauses are identical with those for the preceding rule. Here again, a bhikkhunī'sdesire for instruction is considered more important than the suspicions of the laity.290