An Adviser for Nuns Ovādasutta

At one time the Buddha was staying near Vesālī, at the Great Wood, in the hall with the peaked roof. Ekaṁ samayaṁ bhagavā vesāliyaṁ viharati mahāvane kūṭāgārasālāyaṁ. 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:

“Sir, how many qualities should a monk have to be deemed an adviser for nuns?” “katihi nu kho, bhante, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu bhikkhunovādako sammannitabbo”ti?

“Ānanda, a monk with eight qualities may be deemed an adviser for nuns. “Aṭṭhahi kho, ānanda, dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu bhikkhunovādako sammannitabbo. What eight? Katamehi aṭṭhahi?

Firstly, a monk is ethical, restrained in the monastic code, conducting themselves well and resorting for alms in suitable places. Seeing danger in the slightest fault, they keep the rules they’ve undertaken. Idhānanda, bhikkhu sīlavā hoti …pe… samādāya sikkhati sikkhāpadesu;

They’re learned, remembering and keeping what they’ve learned. These teachings are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, meaningful and well-phrased, describing a spiritual practice that’s totally full and pure. They are very learned in such teachings, remembering them, reciting them, mentally scrutinizing them, and penetrating them theoretically. bahussuto hoti …pe… diṭṭhiyā suppaṭividdhā;

Both monastic codes have been passed down to them in detail, well analyzed, well mastered, well evaluated in both the rules and accompanying material. ubhayāni kho panassa pātimokkhāni vitthārena svāgatāni honti suvibhattāni suppavattīni suvinicchitāni suttaso anubyañjanaso;

They’re a good speaker who enunciates well. Their voice is polished, clear, articulate, and expresses the meaning. kalyāṇavāco hoti kalyāṇavākkaraṇo, poriyā vācāya samannāgato vissaṭṭhāya anelagaḷāya atthassa viññāpaniyā;

They’re able to educate, encourage, fire up, and inspire the community of nuns. paṭibalo hoti bhikkhunisaṅghassa dhammiyā kathāya sandassetuṁ samādapetuṁ samuttejetuṁ sampahaṁsetuṁ;

They’re likable and agreeable to most of the nuns. yebhuyyena bhikkhunīnaṁ piyo hoti manāpo;

They have never previously sexually harassed any woman wearing the ocher robe who has gone forth in the Buddha’s name. na kho panetaṁ bhagavantaṁ uddissa pabbajitāya kāsāyavatthavasanāya garudhammaṁ ajjhāpannapubbo hoti;

They have been ordained for twenty years or more. vīsativasso vā hoti atirekavīsativasso vā.

A monk with these eight qualities may be deemed an adviser for nuns.” Imehi kho, ānanda, aṭṭhahi dhammehi samannāgato bhikkhu bhikkhunovādako sammannitabbo”ti.