The Nuns' Quarters (sutra)

Bhikkhu Bodhi (trans.), Upassaya Sutta (Saṁyutta Nikāya, "Connected Discourses with Kassapa" (sn.16.10) "The Nuns’ Quarters" edited by Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

A nun asks questions of the Buddha.

Thus have I heard. On one occasion Venerable Maha Kassapa was dwelling at Savatthī in Jeta’s Grove, in Anathapiṇḍika’s Park. Then, in the morning, Ven. Ānanda dressed and (sn.ii.215) taking bowl and robe, he approached Ven. Maha Kassapa and said: “Come, Ven. Kassapa, let us go to the nuns’ quarters.”

“You go, friend Ānanda. You’re the busy one with many duties.”

A second time Ven. Ānanda said to Ven. Maha Kassapa: “Come, Ven. Kassapa, let us go to the nuns’ quarters.”

“You go, friend Ānanda. You’re the busy one with many duties.”

A third time Ven. Ānanda said to Ven. Maha Kassapa: “Come, Ven. Kassapa, let us go to the nuns’ quarters.”

Then, in the morning, Ven. Maha Kassapa dressed and, taking bowl and robe, went to the nuns’ quarters with Ven. Ānanda as his companion. When he arrived, he sat down on the appointed seat.

Then a number of nuns approached Ven. Maha Kassapa, paid respect to him, and sat down to one side. As they were sitting there, Ven. Maha Kassapa instructed, exhorted, inspired, and gladdened those nuns with a Dharma talk, after which he rose from his seat and departed.

Then the nun Ven. Thullatissa, being displeased, expressed her displeasure: “How can Master Maha Kassapa think of speaking on the Dharma in the presence of Master Ānanda, the Videhan sage? For Master Maha Kassapa to think of speaking on the Dharma in the presence of Master Ānanda, the Videhan sage — this is just as if a needle-peddler (sn.ii.216) would think he could sell a needle to a needle-maker!”

Ven. Maha Kassapa overheard the nun Ven. Thullatissa making this statement and said to Ven. Ānanda: “How is it, friend Ānanda, am I the needle-peddler and you the needle-maker, or am I the needle-maker and you the needle-peddler?”

“Be patient, Ven. Kassapa. Women are foolish.”

“Hold it, friend Ānanda! Do not give the Monastic Community (Saṅgha) occasion to investigate you further. What do you think, friend Ānanda? Was it you that the Blessed One brought forward in the presence of the Monastic Community, saying:

“‘Monks, to whatever extent I wish, secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states [of mind and heart], I enter and dwell in the first meditative absorption (jhana), which is accompanied by thought and examination, with rapture and happiness born of seclusion. Ānanda also, to whatever extent he wishes, secluded from sensual pleasures, secluded from unwholesome states, enters and dwells in the first meditative absorption’?”

“No, venerable sir.”

“I was the one, friend, whom the Blessed One brought forward in the presence of the Monastic Community, saying: ‘Monks, to whatever extent I wish…I enter and dwell in the first mediative absorption…. Kassapa also, to whatever extent he wishes, enters and dwells in the first meditative absorption.’

• [The same exchange is repeated for the remaining meditative attainments and the six direct knowledges, all as in the preceding discourse (sn.ii.217).]

“I was the one, friend, whom the Blessed One brought forward in the presence of the Monastic Community, saying: ‘Monks, by the destruction of the taints, in this very life I enter and dwell in the taintless liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, realizing it for myself with direct knowledge. Kassapa also, by the destruction of the taints, in this very life enters and dwells in the taintless liberation of mind, liberation by wisdom, realizing it for himself with direct knowledge.’

“Friend, one might just as well think that a bull elephant seven or seven and a half cubits high could be concealed by a palm leaf as think that my six direct knowledges could be concealed.”

The nun Thullatissa fell away from the monastic life. Source: SN 16.10: Upassaya Sutta—Bhikkhu Bodhi (suttacentral.net)