Confession 73

Origin Story

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

Then the group-of-six bhikkhunīs, burning with lustful minds, looking haggard, with weak and feeble bodies, went inside the palace of King Pasenadi. When the women in the palace saw them, they asked: “Venerables, from what do you suffer?” They answered: “We have a sexual suffering.” Then they asked: “What kind of sexual suffering do you have?” They answered: “We’re burning with a lustful mind.” The women said: “We’re inside the palace. From time to time, we obtain a man. If we don’t obtain a man, some make a dildo out of gum and insert it into the vagina. Then they’re able enjoy themselves, and it’s not called engaging in sexual intercourse. The venerables can do this. Then you’ll be able to enjoy yourselves, and it’s not called engaging in sexual intercourse.” Then there were two group-of-six bhikkhunīs who made such a dildo and together engaged in sexual practices. The other bhikkhunīs saw them and said: “She’s having sex with a man.” When they saw them get up, then they knew that it wasn’t a man.

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 the group-of-six bhikkhunīs: “Why did you make a dildo out of gum and engage in sexual intercourse?” 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 the group-of-six bhikkhunīs: “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, group-of-six bhikkhunīs, did you make a dildo out of gum and engage in sexual intercourse?” Then, when the World-honored One had criticized the group-of-six bhikkhunīs in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “These group-of-six bhikkhunīs have all kinds of taints, and are 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 makes a dildo out of gum, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“Making a dildo” means using these things to make it: using gum, cooked rice, flour, or wax.

If a bhikkhunī makes a dildo with these things and inserts it into the vagina, in all cases it’s a pācittiya. If she doesn’t take it and put it into the vagina, it’s a dukkaṭa.

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

“Not committed” means if she has a certain illness, if she applies medicinal fruits or pills of medicine, if it’s a cloth to absorb the menstrual fluid, or if she’s held by force, 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 73rd rule.)