Relinquishment With Confession 28

Origin Story

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

Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī exchanged a robe with another bhikkhunī, and later she snatched it back out of anger (and said:) “Younger sister, return my robe, I didn’t give it to you. Your robe belongs to you, my robe belongs to me. Take your robe, and I’ll take my robe.”

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 Thullanandā bhikkhunī: “Why did you exchange a robe with another bhikkhunī, and later snatch it back out of anger (and say:) ‘Younger sister, return my robe, I didn’t give it to you. Your robe belongs to you, my robe belongs to me. Take your robe, and I’ll take my robe.’?” 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 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, Thullanandā bhikkhunī, did you exchange a robe with another bhikkhunī, and later snatch it back out of anger?” Then, when he had criticized Thullanandā bhikkhunī in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “This Thullanandā 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 exchanges a robe with another bhikkhunī, and later out of anger either snatches it back herself or has someone else snatch it back, (and says:) “Younger sister, return my robe, I didn’t give it to you. Your robe belongs to you, return my robe to me,” it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

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

“Exchanging” means exchanging a robe for a robe, or exchanging a robe for something other than a robe, or exchanging something other than a robe for a robe, or exchanging something other than a robe for something other than a robe, whether a needle, a knife, thread, or broken items, down to one pill of medicine.

If a bhikkhunī exchanges a robe with another bhikkhunī, and later out of anger either snatches it back herself or instructs someone else to snatch it back, and hides it, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya. If she snatches it but doesn’t hide it, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she obtains the robe and hangs it on a tree, on a wall, on a fence, on a pole, on a stake made of an elephant’s tusk, on a clothes rack, on a rope bed, on a wooden bed, on a big or small mat, if she lays it on the ground, or if she takes it and leaves that place, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya. If she takes it but doesn’t leave that place, it’s a dukkaṭa.

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 in a formal act with a motion as second to return it as above. If they don’t return it, if they accept it and make the five robes out of it, … or if they frequently wear 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 gently makes her aware: “Younger sister, I’ve remorse, return my robe,” if the other knows that she has thoughts of remorse and returns the robe, if there’s another bhikkhunī who says: “This bhikkhunī has desire and remorse. Return the robe,” if the other has borrowed and worn it illegitimately and she therefore takes it back, if she knows in advance that it’ll be lost, if she fears that it’ll be destroyed, if the other person breaks the precepts, breaks right view, breaks proper conduct, if she has been suspended, has been permanently expelled, or should be permanently expelled, if (the first bhikkhunī’s) life is in danger because of this matter, or if her celibacy is in danger, and she snatches it but doesn’t hide 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 28th rule.)