eight major offenses (1) [八重・八波羅夷] ( hachijū or hachi-harai): Also, eight grave offenses, eight unpardonable offenses, eight pārājikas, or eight pārājika offenses. The gravest offenses defined for nuns, punishable by expulsion from the Buddhist Order. They are killing, stealing, sexual relations, lying, touching a male, improper association with a male, concealing the misbehavior of another, and following a monk whose behavior goes against monastic rules.
(2) [八重] ( hachijū): Violations of the eight prohibitions for bodhisattvas. They consist of the four offenses of killing, stealing, sexual relations, and lying, plus those of praising oneself and disparaging others, begrudging offerings or withholding one’s efforts to expound the teachings, giving way to anger and not accepting apology, and slandering the correct teaching.