Confession 72

Origin Story

At that time, the Blessed One was among the Sakyans in Kapilavatthu, in the Banyan tree park.

Then Mahāpajāpatī bhikkhunī went to the World-honored One, paid respect with her head at his feet, stood at one side, and said to the Buddha: “World-honored One, a woman’s body stinks, is dirty, and is impure.” When she had said this, she paid respect at the Buddha’s feet, circumambulated him three times, and left. Then the World-honored One for this reason gathered the bhikkhu sangha, and said to the bhikkhus: “From now on, I allow the bhikkhunīs to clean themselves with water.” Then when Thullanandā heard that this had been laid down, she cleaned herself with water and with a lustful mind inserted her finger into the vagina. The finger went deep inside and her fingernail injured her internally. Blood ran out and soiled her body, her robes, and the bedding. The bhikkhunīs then asked her: “What do you suffer from?” Then she fully explained the reason.

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, when cleaning yourself with water, insert your finger into the vagina and injure yourself internally, so that blood ran out and soiled your body, your robes, and the bedding?” 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 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, when cleaning yourself with water, with a lustful mind insert your finger and injure yourself deep inside, so that blood ran out and soiled your body, your robes, and the bedding?” Then, when the World-honored One had criticized Thullanandā 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 cleans herself with water, she should insert up to two fingers, each one finger joint deep. If she exceeds that, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“Cleaning with water” means washing inside with water.

A bhikkhunī who cleans herself with water should insert (up to) two fingers, each one joint deep. If she exceeds that, it’s a pācittiya.

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

“Not committed” means if she inserts up to two fingers, each one joint deep or less than one joint deep, if she has a certain illness, or if there are grass or insects inside that she pulls out, 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 72nd rule.)