Relinquishment With Confession 26

Origin Story

At that time, the Blessed One was in Sāvatthī in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park.

Then bhikkhunīs had their menses, and soiled their bodies, robes, and sitting mat. The bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus went and told the Buddha. The Buddha said: “I allow to wear a cloth to absorb the menstrual fluid. If it comes loose, I allow to wear a belt.” The menstrual fluid still came out on both sides and soiled the robes, and he allowed to make a menstrual robe and wear it as well, and to wear the lower robe nivāsana.* on top. If they came to lay people’s houses, they should say: “I’m sick.” If the lay people said: “Just sit down without worries,” the bhikkhunīs should pull up their lower robes and sit down with this menstrual robe covering their bodies.

Then there was Chandāsaññā bhikkhunī. She often said of herself that she didn’t have perceptions of desire. She said to another bhikkhunī: “When you have your menses, take this robe from me.” She replied: “Okay.” The other bhikkhunī always expected that robe and therefore didn’t prepare a robe. At another time, Chandāsaññā bhikkhunī had her menses, and the other bhikkhunī had it as well. Then the other bhikkhunī sent a messenger to Chandāsaññā bhikkhunī to say: “Previously, you promised me your menstrual robe. Now please give it.” She answered: “Younger sister, I now also have my menses, I’m not able to give it to you.” That bhikkhunī rebuked Chandāsaññā bhikkhunī: “Previously you told me: ‘When you have your menses, take a menstrual robe from me.’ I always expected to get the robe, and didn’t prepare a robe myself. But now when I go and ask for it, you won’t give it to me?”

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 rebuked Chandāsaññā bhikkhunī: “Why did you promise that bhikkhunī a menstrual robe, which led to her not preparing a robe herself, and now when she asks for it, you don’t give it?” Then the bhikkhunīs went and 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 Chandāsaññā 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, Chandāsaññā bhikkhunī, did you promise someone a menstrual robe, which led to her not preparing one herself, and now when she asks for it, you don’t give it?” Then, when he had criticized Chandāsaññā bhikkhunī in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “Chandāsaññā 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 promises another bhikkhunī a menstrual robe, but doesn’t give it later, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“A menstrual robe” means to cover the body underneath when she has her menses, and to wear the lower robe on top.

“A robe” means there are 10 kinds of cloths, as above.

If a bhikkhunī promises another a menstrual robe and doesn’t give it, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya. Except for the menstrual robe, if she promises another robe and doesn’t give it, it’s a dukkaṭa. Except for other robes, if she promises another essential item and doesn’t give it, it’s a dukkaṭa. If a bhikkhunī promises another bhikkhunī a menstrual robe and doesn’t give it later, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya. This nissaggiya should be relinquished to the sangha, as above. When she has relinquished it, she should confess as above. The sangha should then return the relinquished robe to her as above. If they don’t return it, if they accept it and make the five robes out of it, … or if they frequently use it, in all cases it’s a dukkaṭa as above.

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 promises a menstrual robe and gives it, if there’s no menstrual robe, if she is making a menstrual robe, if she has washed, dyed, beaten, and hung it up in a locked place and doesn’t give it when asked, the offense isn’t committed. If the other bhikkhunī has broken the precepts, or has broken right view, or has broken proper conduct, and has been suspended, has been permanently expelled, or should be permanently expelled, and if for these reasons (the first bhikkhunī’s) life is in danger, or her celibacy is in danger, and she has promised a menstrual robe but doesn’t give it, 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 26th rule.)