The nuns heard the complaints of those people, and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can the nuns from the group of six spin yarn?” … “Is it true, monks, that those nuns do this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … “How can the nuns from the group of six do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling ‘If a nun spins yarn, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions A: whoever … Nun: … The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case. Yarn: there are six kinds of yarn: linen, cotton, silk, wool, sunn hemp, and hemp. Spins: if she spins it herself, then for the effort there is an act of wrong conduct. For every pull, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Non-offenses There is no offense: if she spins yarn that has already been spun; if she is insane; if she is the first offender. The third training rule is finished.

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law The Nuns’ Analysis The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on galleries Serving householders

Origin story At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the nuns were providing services for householders. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can nuns provide services for householders?” … “Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … “How can nuns do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling ‘If a nun provides services for a householder, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions