AN 8 The Book of the Eights – Aṭṭhakanipāta > AN 8.51 With Gotamī

Numbered Discourses 8.51 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 8.51

6. Gotamī – 6. Gotamīvagga

AN 8.51 With Gotamī – Gotamīsutta

1.1

At one time the Buddha was staying in the land of the Sakyans, near Kapilavatthu in the Banyan Tree Monastery.

Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā sakkesu viharati kapilavatthusmiṁ nigrodhārāme.

1.2

Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī went up to the Buddha, bowed, stood to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ aṭṭhāsi. Ekamantaṁ ṭhitā kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

1.3

“Sir, please let females gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

“sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

1.4

“Enough, Gotamī.

“Alaṁ, gotami.

1.5

Don’t advocate for females to gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.

2.1

For a second time …

Dutiyampi kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

2.2

“sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

2.3

“Alaṁ, gotami.

2.4

Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.

3.1

For a third time, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī said to the Buddha:

Tatiyampi kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

3.2

“Sir, please let females gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

“sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

3.3

“Enough, Gotamī.

“Alaṁ, gotami.

3.4

Don’t advocate for females to gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.

4.1

Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī thought, “The Buddha does not permit females to go forth.” Miserable and sad, weeping, with a tearful face, she bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on her right, before leaving.

Atha kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī “na bhagavā anujānāti mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti dukkhī dummanā assumukhī rudamānā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā padakkhiṇaṁ katvā pakkāmi.

5.1

When the Buddha had stayed in Kapilavatthu as long as he wished, he set out for Vesālī.

Atha kho bhagavā kapilavatthusmiṁ yathābhirantaṁ viharitvā yena vesālī tena cārikaṁ pakkāmi.

5.2

Traveling stage by stage, he arrived at Vesālī,

Anupubbena cārikaṁ caramāno yena vesālī tadavasari.

5.3

where he stayed at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof.

Tatra sudaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ.

5.4

Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī had her hair shaved, and dressed in ocher robes. Together with several Sakyan ladies she set out for Vesālī.

Atha kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī kese chedāpetvā kāsāyāni vatthāni acchādetvā sambahulāhi sākiyānīhi saddhiṁ yena vesālī tena pakkāmi.

5.5

Traveling stage by stage, she arrived at Vesālī and went to the Great Wood, the hall with the peaked roof.

Anupubbena yena vesālī mahāvanaṁ kūṭāgārasālā tenupasaṅkami.

5.6

Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī stood crying outside the gate, her feet swollen, her limbs covered with dust, miserable and sad, with tearful face.

Atha kho mahāpajāpatī gotamī sūnehi pādehi rajokiṇṇena gattena dukkhī dummanā assumukhī rudamānā bahidvārakoṭṭhake aṭṭhāsi.

6.1

Venerable Ānanda saw her standing there,

Addasā kho āyasmā ānando mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ sūnehi pādehi rajokiṇṇena gattena dukkhiṁ dummanaṁ assumukhiṁ rudamānaṁ bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitaṁ.

6.2

and said to her,

Disvāna mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca:

6.3

“Gotamī, why do you stand crying outside the gate, your feet swollen, your limbs covered with dust, miserable and sad, with tearful face?”

“kiṁ nu tvaṁ, gotami, sūnehi pādehi rajokiṇṇena gattena dukkhī dummanā assumukhī rudamānā bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitā”ti?

6.4

“Sir, Ānanda, it’s because the Buddha does not permit females to go forth in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

“Tathā hi pana, bhante ānanda, na bhagavā anujānāti mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

6.5

“Well then, Gotamī, wait here just a moment, while I ask the Buddha to grant the going forth for females.”

“Tena hi tvaṁ, gotami, muhuttaṁ idheva tāva hohi, yāvāhaṁ bhagavantaṁ yācāmi mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

7.1

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him:

Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

7.2

“Sir, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī is standing crying outside the gate, her feet swollen, her limbs covered with dust, miserable and sad, with tearful face.

“esā, bhante, mahāpajāpatī gotamī sūnehi pādehi rajokiṇṇena gattena dukkhī dummanā assumukhī rudamānā bahidvārakoṭṭhake ṭhitā:

7.3

She says that it’s because the Buddha does not permit females to go forth.

‘na bhagavā anujānāti mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan’ti.

7.4

Sir, please let females gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

Sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

7.5

“Enough, Ānanda.

“Alaṁ, ānanda.

7.6

Don’t advocate for females to gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.

8.1

For a second time …

Dutiyampi kho …pe…

8.2

For a third time, Ānanda said to the Buddha:

tatiyampi kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

8.3

“Sir, please let females gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

“sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

8.4

“Enough, Ānanda.

“Alaṁ, ānanda.

8.5

Don’t advocate for females to gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

Mā te rucci mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjā”ti.

9.1

Then Venerable Ānanda thought,

Atha kho āyasmato ānandassa etadahosi:

9.2

“The Buddha does not permit females to go forth.

“na bhagavā anujānāti mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ.

9.3

Why don’t I try another approach?”

Yannūnāhaṁ aññenapi pariyāyena bhagavantaṁ yāceyyaṁ mātugāmassa tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

9.4

Then Venerable Ānanda said to the Buddha,

Atha kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

9.5

“Sir, is a female able to realize the fruits of stream-entry, once-return, non-return, and perfection once she has gone forth?”

“bhabbo nu kho, bhante, mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā sotāpattiphalaṁ vā sakadāgāmiphalaṁ vā anāgāmiphalaṁ vā arahattaphalaṁ vā sacchikātun”ti?

9.6

“She is able, Ānanda.”

“Bhabbo, ānanda, mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā sotāpattiphalampi sakadāgāmiphalampi anāgāmiphalampi arahattaphalampi sacchikātun”ti.

9.7

“If a female is able to realize the fruits of stream-entry, once-return, non-return, and perfection once she has gone forth.

“Sace, bhante, bhabbo mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajitvā sotāpattiphalampi …pe… arahattaphalampi sacchikātuṁ;

9.8

Sir, Mahāpajāpatī has been very helpful to the Buddha. She is his aunt who raised him, nurtured him, and gave him her milk.

bahukārā, bhante, mahāpajāpatī gotamī bhagavato mātucchā āpādikā posikā khīrassa dāyikā;

9.9

When the Buddha’s birth mother passed away, she nurtured him at her own breast.

bhagavantaṁ janettiyā kālaṅkatāya thaññaṁ pāyesi.

9.10

Sir, please let females gain the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One.”

Sādhu, bhante, labheyya mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjan”ti.

10.1

“Ānanda, if Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī accepts these eight dhamma of respect, that will be her ordination.

“Sace, ānanda, mahāpajāpatī gotamī aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇhāti, sāvassā hotu upasampadā—

11.1

A nun, even if she has been ordained for a hundred years, should bow down to a monk who was ordained that very day. She should rise up for him, greet him with joined palms, and observe proper etiquette toward him.

Vassasatūpasampannāya bhikkhuniyā tadahūpasampannassa bhikkhuno abhivādanaṁ paccuṭṭhānaṁ añjalikammaṁ sāmīcikammaṁ kattabbaṁ.

11.2

This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

12.1

A nun should not commence the rainy season residence in a monastery without monks.

Na bhikkhuniyā abhikkhuke āvāse vassaṁ upagantabbaṁ.

12.2

This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

13.1

Each fortnight the nuns should expect two things from the community of monks:

Anvaḍḍhamāsaṁ bhikkhuniyā bhikkhusaṅghato dve dhammā paccāsīsitabbā—

13.2

the date of the sabbath, and visiting for advice.

uposathapucchakañca, ovādūpasaṅkamanañca.

13.3

This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

14.1

After completing the rainy season residence the nuns should invite admonition from the communities of both monks and nuns in regard to anything that was

Vassaṁvuṭṭhāya bhikkhuniyā ubhatosaṅghe tīhi ṭhānehi pavāretabbaṁ—

14.2

seen, heard, or suspected.

diṭṭhena vā sutena vā parisaṅkāya vā.

14.3

This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

15.1

A nun who has committed a grave offense should undergo penance in the communities of both monks and nuns for a fortnight.

Garudhammaṁ ajjhāpannāya bhikkhuniyā ubhatosaṅghe pakkhamānattaṁ caritabbaṁ.

15.2

This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

16.1

A trainee nun who has trained in the six rules for two years should seek ordination from the communities of both monks and nuns.

Dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya sikkhamānāya ubhatosaṅghe upasampadā pariyesitabbā.

16.2

This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

17.1

A nun should not abuse or insult a monk in any way.

Na kenaci pariyāyena bhikkhuniyā bhikkhu akkositabbo paribhāsitabbo.

17.2

This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

18.1

From this day forth it is forbidden for nuns to criticize monks, but it is not forbidden for monks to criticize nuns.

Ajjatagge ovaṭo bhikkhunīnaṁ bhikkhūsu vacanapatho, anovaṭo bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīsu vacanapatho.

18.2

This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

19.1

If Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī accepts these eight dhamma of respect, that will be her ordination.”

Sace, ānanda, mahāpajāpatī gotamī ime aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇhāti, sāvassā hotu upasampadā”ti.

20.1

Then Ānanda, having learned these eight dhamma of respect from the Buddha himself, went to Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī and said:

Atha kho āyasmā ānando bhagavato santike ime aṭṭha garudhamme uggahetvā yena mahāpajāpatī gotamī tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā mahāpajāpatiṁ gotamiṁ etadavoca:

21.1

“Gotamī, if you accept eight dhamma of respect, that will be your ordination.

“Sace kho tvaṁ, gotami, aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇheyyāsi, sāva te bhavissati upasampadā—

22.1

Vassasatūpasampannāya bhikkhuniyā tadahūpasampannassa bhikkhuno abhivādanaṁ paccuṭṭhānaṁ añjalikammaṁ sāmīcikammaṁ kattabbaṁ.

22.2

This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts. …

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo …pe….

23.1

From this day forth it is forbidden for nuns to criticize monks, but it is not forbidden for monks to criticize nuns.

Ajjatagge ovaṭo bhikkhunīnaṁ bhikkhūsu vacanapatho, anovaṭo bhikkhūnaṁ bhikkhunīsu vacanapatho.

23.2

This principle should be honored, respected, esteemed, and venerated, and not transgressed so long as life lasts.

Ayampi dhammo sakkatvā garuṁ katvā mānetvā pūjetvā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyo.

23.3

If you accept these eight dhamma of respect, that will be your ordination.”

Sace kho tvaṁ, gotami, ime aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇheyyāsi, sāva te bhavissati upasampadā”ti.

24.1

“Ānanda, suppose there was a woman or man who was young, youthful, and fond of adornments, and had bathed their head. After getting a garland of lotuses, jasmine, or liana flowers, they would take them in both hands and place them on the crown of the head.

“Seyyathāpi, bhante ānanda, itthī vā puriso vā daharo yuvā maṇḍanakajātiko sīsaṁnhāto uppalamālaṁ vā vassikamālaṁ vā adhimuttakamālaṁ vā labhitvā ubhohi hatthehi paṭiggahetvā uttamaṅge sirasmiṁ patiṭṭhāpeyya;

24.2

In the same way, sir, I accept these eight dhamma of respect as not to be transgressed so long as life lasts.”

evamevaṁ kho ahaṁ, bhante ānanda, ime aṭṭha garudhamme paṭiggaṇhāmi yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīye”ti.

25.1

Then Venerable Ānanda went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to the Buddha:

Atha kho āyasmā ānando yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavantaṁ abhivādetvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho āyasmā ānando bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

25.2

“Sir, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī has accepted the eight dhamma of respect as not to be transgressed so long as life lasts.”

“paṭiggahitā, bhante, mahāpajāpatiyā gotamiyā aṭṭha garudhammā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyā”ti.

26.1

“Ānanda, if females had not gained the going forth from the lay life to homelessness in the teaching and training proclaimed by the Realized One, the spiritual life would have lasted long. The true teaching would have remained for a thousand years.

“Sace, ānanda, nālabhissa mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ, ciraṭṭhitikaṁ, ānanda, brahmacariyaṁ abhavissa, vassasahassameva saddhammo tiṭṭheyya.

26.2

But since they have gained the going forth, now the spiritual life will not last long.

Yato ca kho, ānanda, mātugāmo tathāgatappavedite dhammavinaye agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajito, na dāni, ānanda, brahmacariyaṁ ciraṭṭhitikaṁ bhavissati.

26.3

The true teaching will remain only five hundred years.

Pañceva dāni, ānanda, vassasatāni saddhammo ṭhassati.

27.1

It’s like those families with many women and few men. They’re easy prey for bandits and thieves.

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, yāni kānici kulāni bahutthikāni appapurisakāni, tāni suppadhaṁsiyāni honti corehi kumbhatthenakehi;

27.2

In the same way, the spiritual life does not last long in a teaching and training where females gain the going forth.

evamevaṁ kho, ānanda, yasmiṁ dhammavinaye labhati mātugāmo agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ, na taṁ brahmacariyaṁ ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti.

28.1

It’s like a field full of rice. Once the disease called ‘white bones’ attacks, it doesn’t last long.

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, sampanne sālikkhette setaṭṭhikā nāma rogajāti nipatati, evaṁ taṁ sālikkhettaṁ na ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti;

28.2

In the same way, the spiritual life does not last long in a teaching and training where females gain the going forth.

evamevaṁ kho, ānanda, yasmiṁ dhammavinaye labhati mātugāmo agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ, na taṁ brahmacariyaṁ ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti.

29.1

It’s like a field full of sugar cane. Once the disease called ‘red rot’ attacks, it doesn’t last long.

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, sampanne ucchukkhette mañjiṭṭhikā nāma rogajāti nipatati, evaṁ taṁ ucchukkhettaṁ na ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti;

29.2

In the same way, the spiritual life does not last long in a teaching and training where females gain the going forth.

evamevaṁ kho, ānanda, yasmiṁ dhammavinaye labhati mātugāmo agārasmā anagāriyaṁ pabbajjaṁ, na taṁ brahmacariyaṁ ciraṭṭhitikaṁ hoti.

30.1

As a man might build a dyke around a large lake as a precaution against the water overflowing,

Seyyathāpi, ānanda, puriso mahato taḷākassa paṭikacceva āḷiṁ bandheyya yāvadeva udakassa anatikkamanāya;

30.2

in the same way as a precaution I’ve prescribed the eight dhamma of respect as not to be transgressed so long as life lasts.”

evamevaṁ kho, ānanda, mayā paṭikacceva bhikkhunīnaṁ aṭṭha garudhammā paññattā yāvajīvaṁ anatikkamanīyā”ti.

30.3

Paṭhamaṁ.