비구니 교계인의 자질에 관한 고찰 = Reflections on the Qualities of an Exhorter of Nuns (Bhikkhunovādaka)

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

In Article 21 of the pācittiyā-dhammā of all Vinaya Piṭaka, the attributes of bhikkhunovādaka (exhorter of nuns) who is entitled to teach nuns are mentioned. However, according to each Vinaya Piṭaka, not only the background and reasons for enacting this precept but the detailed qualities that a ‘bhikkhunovādaka’ must have appear differently. In addition, scholars translate and interpret the qualifications of ‘bhikkhunovādaka’ written in Article 21 of the pācittiyā-dhammā of the Vinaya Piṭaka in Pāli differently from each other.
According to the author's research, the eight qualities that a ‘bhikkhunovādaka’ must have as documented in the Vinaya Piṭaka in Pāli are as follows. ⑴ One who keeps precepts (持戒者), ⑵ One who has much learning (多聞者), ⑶ One who can recite and interpret the two paṭimokkhas (善能誦解二部戒), ⑷ One who can preach the Dharma with a good voice (善能說法者), ⑸ One who can make nuns happy by giving sermons to them (堪與比丘尼衆說法勸令歡喜), ⑹ One who has the ability to teach nuns (能善比丘尼敎誡具足者), ⑺ One who has not violated any serious laws since he was ordained a monk (不爲出家而犯重法), and ⑻ One who is 20 years old or over (滿二十歲, 若過二十歲).
In addition, the qualities of ‘bhikkhunovādaka’ that appear in common in various Vinaya Piṭaka are as follows. ⑴ One who keeps precepts (持戒者), ⑵ One who has much learning (多聞者), ⑶ One who is over 20 years old (滿二十歲 以上), ⑷ One who can well preach the Dharma (善能說法者), and ⑸ One who can recite and interpret the two paṭimokkhas (善能誦解二部戒), etc. If we add one more thing here, it will be “One who has never defiled bhikkhuni’s body (不曾以身汚比丘尼).” This is because a person who defiles a novice (sāmaṇera), a female novice (sāmaṇerī), or a nun (bhikkhunī) after being ordained a monk cannot become ‘bhikkhunovādaka.’
Finally, this paper is the first in Korea to discuss the qualities of a bhikkhunī. This is because even scholars who specialize in the Vinaya Piṭaka do not know exactly what the eight qualities of a ‘bhikkhunovādaka’ are. Furthermore, in Korea, senior monks who hold important positions in the sect are often asked to teach or preach to bhikkhunīs. This paper is not intended to express the author's original views. It is intended to accurately present the eight qualities of a ‘bhikkhunovādaka’ and to prevent the harm caused by those who do not possess these qualities from preaching or teaching Nuns. I hope this paper will be of some help to the development of the Korean bhikkhunī saṅgha.