252 LESSON 09 05 2011 Bhikkhuni Sutta The Nun FREE ONLINE eNālandā Research and Practice UNIVERSITY and BUDDHIST
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LESSON 252
Bhikkhuni Sutta: The Nun
I have
heard that on one occasion Ven. Ananda was staying in Kosambi, at Ghosita’s Park. Then a certain
nun said to a certain man, “Go, my good man, to my lord Ananda and, on
arrival, bowing your head to his feet in my name, tell him, ‘The nun named
such-and-such, venerable sir, is sick, in pain, severely ill. She bows her head
to the feet of her lord Ananda and says, “It would be good if my lord
Ananda were to go to the nuns’ quarters, to visit this nun out of sympathy for
her.”‘”
Responding,
“Yes, my lady,” the man then approached Ven. Ananda and, on arrival,
having bowed down, sat to one side. As he was sitting there he said to Ven.
Ananda, “The nun named such-and-such, venerable sir, is sick, in pain,
severely ill. She bows her head to the feet of her lord Ananda and says, ‘It
would be good if my lord Ananda were to go to the nuns’ quarters, to visit this
nun out of sympathy for her.’”
Ven.
Ananda accepted with silence.
Then in
the early morning, having put on his robes and, carrying his bowl and outer
robe, he went to the nuns’ quarters. The nun saw Ven. Ananda coming from afar.
On seeing him, she lay down on a bed, having covered her head.
Then Ven.
Ananda approached the nun and, on arrival, sat down on a prepared seat. As he
was sitting there, he said to the nun: “This body, sister, comes into
being through food. And yet it is by relying on food that food is to be
abandoned.
“This
body comes into being through craving. And yet it is by relying on craving that
craving is to be abandoned.
“This
body comes into being through conceit. And yet it is by relying on conceit that
conceit is to be abandoned.
“This
body comes into being through sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse is to be
abandoned. With regard to sexual intercourse, the Buddha declares the cutting
off of the bridge.
“‘This
body, sister, comes into being through food. And yet it is by relying on food
that food is to be abandoned.’ Thus was it said. And in reference to what was
it said? There is the case, sister, where a monk, considering it thoughtfully,
takes food — not playfully, nor for intoxication, nor for putting on bulk, nor
for beautification — but simply for the survival & continuance of this
body, for ending its afflictions, for the support of the holy life, [thinking,]
‘Thus will I destroy old feelings [of hunger] and not create new feelings [from
overeating]. I will maintain myself, be blameless, & live in comfort.’
Then, at a later time, he abandons food, having relied on food. ‘This body,
sister, comes into being through food. And yet it is by relying on food that
food is to be abandoned.’ Thus was it said, and in reference to this was it
said.
“‘This
body comes into being through craving. And yet it is by relying on craving that
craving is to be abandoned.’ Thus was it said. And in reference to what was it
said? There is the case, sister, where a monk hears, ‘The monk named
such-and-such, they say, through the ending of the fermentations, has entered
& remains in the fermentation-free awareness-release &
discernment-release, having known & realized them for himself in the here
& now.’ The thought occurs to him, ‘I hope that I, too, will — through the
ending of the fermentations — enter & remain in the fermentation-free
awareness-release & discernment-release, having known & realized them
for myself in the here & now.’ Then, at a later time, he abandons craving,
having relied on craving. ‘This body comes into being through craving. And yet
it is by relying on craving that craving is to be abandoned.’ Thus was it said.
And in reference to this was it said.
“‘This
body comes into being through conceit. And yet it is by relying on conceit that
conceit is to be abandoned.’ Thus was it said. And in reference to what was it
said? There is the case, sister, where a monk hears, ‘The monk named
such-and-such, they say, through the ending of the fermentations, has entered
& remains in the fermentation-free awareness-release &
discernment-release, having known & realized them for himself in the here
& now.’ The thought occurs to him, ‘The monk named such-and-such, they say,
through the ending of the fermentations, has entered & remains in the
fermentation-free awareness-release & discernment-release, having known
& realized them for himself in the here & now. Then why not me?’ Then,
at a later time, he abandons conceit, having relied on conceit. ‘This body
comes into being through conceit. And yet it is by relying on conceit that
conceit is to be abandoned.’ Thus was it said, and in reference to this was it
said.
“This
body comes into being through sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse is to be
abandoned. With regard to sexual intercourse, the Buddha declares the cutting
off of the bridge.”
Then the
nun — getting up from her bed, arranging her upper robe over one shoulder, and
bowing down with her head at Ven. Ananda’s feet — said, “A transgression
has overcome me, venerable sir, in that I was so foolish, so muddle-headed, and
so unskilled as to act in this way. May my lord Ananda please accept this
confession of my transgression as such, so that I may restrain myself in the
future.”
“Yes,
sister, a transgression overcame you in that you were so foolish, so
muddle-headed, and so unskilled as to act in this way. But because you see your
transgression as such and make amends in accordance with the Dhamma, we accept
your confession. For it is a cause of growth in the Dhamma & Discipline of
the noble ones when, seeing a transgression as such, one makes amends in
accordance with the Dhamma and exercises restraint in the future.”
That is
what Ven. Ananda said. Gratified, the nun delighted in Ven. Ananda’s words.