Relinquishment With Confession 19

Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, fascicle 24 (Part 2.3, explanation of the bhikkhunī rules.)

Translated by the Kāśmīra Tipiṭaka master Buddhayaśas together with Zhú Fóniàn in the later Qin state.

The 30 pācittiya rules with relinquishment, part 2.

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. Then, Thullanandā bhikkhunī had a supporter. In the morning, she put on her robes, took her bowl, went to their house, and said: “I need ghee.” They said: “Okay.” Then they bought and gave it. When they had already bought and given ghee, she said: “I don’t need ghee, I need oil.” They said: “You’ll get it.” Then they went to the ghee seller and said: “We don’t need ghee, we need oil.” The (seller) replied: “I’ll take your ghee under the conditions for purchasing ghee i.e. at wholesale price* and I’ll give you oil under the conditions for selling oil. i.e. at retail price*” The supporter then was upset and said: “The bhikkhunīs have no moderation and they know no shame. Outwardly, they praise themselves: ‘We know the true dhamma’, but when wanting ghee, they ask for oil, when wanting oil, they ask for ghee. How is that the true dhamma? If you need ghee, you should directly ask for ghee, if you need oil, you should directly ask for oil, if you need other things, you should directly ask for other things.”

When the bhikkhunīs heard this, there were among them those with few wishes, who knew moderation, who practised the austerities, who were keen on training in the precepts, and who knew shame. They criticized Thullanandā bhikkhunī: “Why did you ask for ghee when you wanted oil, and ask for oil when you wanted ghee?” Then the bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus went and told the World-honored One. The World-honored One then for this reason gathered the bhikkhu sangha, and criticized Thullanandā bhikkhunī: “What you did is wrong, is improper conduct, against the rules of renunciates, an impure practice, a practice not to be followed, shouldn’t be done. Why did you, wanting ghee, ask for oil, and wanting oil, ask for ghee?” Then, when the World-honored One had criticized Thullanandā bhikkhunī in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “This Thullanandā bhikkhunī has all kinds of taints, and is the first to break this precept. From now on, I’ll lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs, and state the 10 principles: … So that the true dhamma may last long. Someone wishing to recite the precept should recite like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī wants and asks for something, and then still asks for something else, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“Wanting and asking for something, and then still asking for something else” means having wanted ghee, then still wanting oil, or having asked for oil, then still asking for ghee. If she wants other things, it’s also the same.

If a bhikkhunī wants and asks for something, and still asks for something else, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya. This nissaggiya should be relinquished to the bhikkhunī sangha, or to a group of people, or to a single person. One may not relinquish it to a divided assembly. If she relinquishes it (to them), the relinquishing isn’t accomplished, and it’s a dukkaṭa. When she wants to relinquish it, she should go into the midst of the sangha, uncover her right shoulder, take off her leather sandals, and having paid respect at the sangha’s feet, place her right knee on the ground, join her palms, and say:

Saṅghakamma

Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. I, bhikkhunī So-and-so, have asked for something and still asked for something else. I’ve committed a nissaggiya pācittiya. Now I relinquish it to the sangha.”

Explanation (continued)

When she has relinquished it, she should confess. First the person who receives the confession (carries out) the motion, and then receives the confession. She carries out the motion as follows:

Saṅghakamma

Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. This bhikkhunī So-and-so has asked for something and still asked for something else. She has committed a nissaggiya pācittiya. Now she has relinquished it to the sangha. If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha approve that I receive bhikkhunī So-and-so’s confession. This is the motion.”

Explanation (continued)

When she has done the motion like this, she should receive her confession and tell her:

“Correct your mind!” She answers: “Yes.” The bhikkhunī sangha should then return the relinquished item to that bhikkhunī, and a formal act with a motion as second should be carried out as follows: In the sangha, they should choose a capable person who can carry out formal acts as above. She should carry out the motion as follows:

Saṅghakamma

Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. This bhikkhunī So-and-so has asked for something and still asked for something else. She has committed a nissaggiya pācittiya. Now she has relinquished it to the sangha. If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha approve that this relinquished item be returned to bhikkhunī So-and-so. This is the motion.” “Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. This bhikkhunī So-and-so has asked for something and still asked for something else. She has committed a nissaggiya pācittiya. Now she has relinquished it to the sangha. The sangha returns this relinquished item to bhikkhunī So-and-so. Those of the venerable sisters who accept that the sangha returns the relinquished item to bhikkhunī So-and-so should remain silent. Those who don’t accept this should speak.” “The sangha has accepted to return the relinquished item to bhikkhunī So-and-so. The sangha accepts this, therefore you’re silent. This matter is remembered thus.”

Explanation (continued)

If, after she has relinquished the item, they don’t return it, it’s a dukkaṭa. If when they return it, someone instructs them: “Don’t return it”, it’s a dukkaṭa (for that person). If they don’t return it and turn it into a pure offering vikappana*, if they send it to someone else, if they intentionally damage it, if they burn it, if they turn it into another item, or if they frequently use it, in all cases it’s a dukkaṭa.

For a bhikkhu, it’s a dukkaṭa. For a sikkhamānā, a sāmaṇera, and a sāmaṇerī, it’s a dukkaṭa. This is called “to commit”.

“Not committed” means if she needs ghee and asks for ghee, if she needs oil and asks for oil, if she needs other things and directly asks for other things, if she asks from relatives, if she asks from renunciates, if she asks for others and others ask for her, and if she obtains it without asking, the offense isn’t committed.

“Not committed” means if she’s the first offender when the precept hadn’t yet been laid down, if she’s mad, if she’s distracted, or if she’s overcome with pain. (End of the 19th rule.)