The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How could the nuns from the group of six abuse Venerable Upāli?” … “Is it true, monks, that those nuns did this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … “How could 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 abuses or reviles a monk, 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. A monk: one who is fully ordained. Abuses: if she abuses with the ten kinds of abuse or with any one of them, she commits an offense entailing confession. Reviles: if she induces fear, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations If he is fully ordained, and she perceives him as such, and she abuses or reviles him, she commits an offense entailing confession. If he is fully ordained, but she is unsure of it, and she abuses or reviles him, she commits an offense entailing confession. If he is fully ordained, but she does not perceive him as such, and she abuses or reviles him, she commits an offense entailing confession. If she abuses or reviles someone who is not fully ordained, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he is not fully ordained, but she perceives him as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he is not fully ordained, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he is not fully ordained, and she does not perceive him as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses There is no offense: if she is aiming at something beneficial; if she is aiming at giving a teaching; if she is aiming at giving an instruction; if she is insane; if she is the first offender. The second training rule is finished.

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law The Nuns’ Analysis The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on monasteries Reviling the community

Origin story