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The Nuns' Analysis: Not Abandoning Those in Your Care
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The Nuns' Analysis: Not Abandoning Those in Your Care

Dukkhitaṃ sahajīviniṃ neva upaṭṭheyya

A nun who neither nurses her sick pupil nor finds anyone else to, who ordains pupils and then leaves them untaught for two years, who fails to take a pupil away from danger — and pupils who do not attend their preceptor. Responsibility runs both ways.

7 points

The Bhikkhunīvibhaṅga, in volume 3 of the Vinaya Piṭaka, collects the training rules for nuns. Several rules concern the relationship between a preceptor (pavattinī) and her sahajīvinī, the pupil she has given full ordination. The origin stories show that taking someone into your care brings duties with it. The lesson applies to everyone who has people depending on them, not only to nuns.

The nun Thullanandā did not look after a sick pupil, nor did she arrange for anyone else to. In another story, she ordained pupils and then for two years neither helped them herself nor had others help them, so they were ignorant and did not know what was allowable and what was not. In yet another, she did not take her pupil away when there was danger, and the pupil's husband (according to the Pāli) seized her.

The responsibility runs both ways: there is also a rule for pupils, under which a nun who does not attend on the preceptor who ordained her for two years likewise commits an offence.

  1. 1

    Not leaving the sick in your care Dukkhitā nāma gilānā vuccati

    Thullanandā did not help her pupil who was in distress. The rule analysis explains that "in distress" means sick, and that sahajīvinī means the pupil living under one's care.

    Applying it in daily life

    When someone at home, on your team or sharing your room falls ill, ask them what they need before assuming they can manage.

  2. 2

    If you can't do it yourself, find help Na upaṭṭhāpanāya ussukkaṃ kareyya

    The rule faults both not caring for the sick person oneself and not making an effort to have others care for her. The rule analysis says the offence comes as soon as one gives up the responsibility, resolving neither to care nor to find anyone to care.

    Applying it in daily life

    If you can't visit a sick parent, phone them, arrange a carer, or ask a sibling to help. Don't let inconvenience turn into doing nothing.

  3. 3

    Fair exceptions Sati antarāye pariyesitvā na labhati gilānāya āpadāsu

    The exceptions are when there is danger, when one searched for someone to help and found no one, when one is ill oneself, or in an emergency. The duty is to do what is genuinely possible, not beyond one's strength.

    Applying it in daily life

    If you're the main carer and are exhausted, resting or asking for help is not abandonment.

  4. 4

    Once you take someone in, keep teaching Dve vassāni neva anuggaṇhāti na anuggaṇhāpeti

    Thullanandā ordained pupils and then for two years neither helped them herself nor had others help. The rule analysis explains that helping means giving recitation, answering questions, giving advice and instruction.

    Applying it in daily life

    When you take on a new employee or intern, set aside time each week to teach and answer questions, or clearly assign a mentor.

  5. 5

    Left alone, they don't know what is proper Tā bālā honti abyattā na jānanti kappiyaṃ vā akappiyaṃ vā

    The result of not being taught was that the pupils were ignorant and inexperienced, not knowing what was allowable and what was not. A newcomer's mistakes may come from no one having taught them, not from bad character.

    Applying it in daily life

    Before scolding a child or a newcomer for a mistake, ask yourself whether anyone has ever told them what is and isn't appropriate.

  6. 6

    Pupils must care for their preceptor too Vuṭṭhāpitaṃ pavattiniṃ dve vassāni nānubandheyya

    Some nuns did not attend on the preceptor who had ordained them for two years, and so they too were ignorant. The Buddha made this an offence. The exceptions are when the preceptor is foolish or shameless, when one is ill, or in an emergency.

    Applying it in daily life

    Keep in touch with teachers or mentors who helped you — but you are not obliged to follow someone who behaves wrongly.

  7. 7

    Not abandoning each other in danger Sahajīviniṃ vuṭṭhāpetvā neva vūpakāseyya na vūpakāsāpeyya

    Thullanandā neither took her pupil away herself nor had others take her, and the pupil was seized. The nuns criticised her, saying that had the pupil gone with her, she would not have been seized. The rule requires taking a pupil away, or having her taken, at least five or six yojanas.

    Applying it in daily life

    If someone in your care faces danger, such as being threatened or harassed, help them get to safety or contact people who can help. Don't wait for something to happen.

Try it in daily life

These stories apply to parents, to adult children caring for elderly parents, to managers taking on new staff, and to mentors of every kind. Taking someone into your care doesn't end on the first day.

What makes this practical is that the Vinaya doesn't require you to do everything personally. If you can't do it yourself, find someone who can. And if there is a genuine obstacle — danger, no one to be found after searching, or your own illness — it isn't counted as a fault. Carers need to look after themselves too.

A good relationship comes from both sides: the carer doesn't abandon, and the one cared for doesn't forget those who cared for them.

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