Confession 74

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 thoughts, looking haggard, with weak and feeble bodies, went to the palace of King Pasenadi. When the women in the palace saw them, they asked: “Venerables, from what do you suffer?” They answered: “It’s because we can’t follow our wishes.” They asked: “What’s the wish you can’t follow?” They answered: “We’re burning with lustful minds.” The women said: “We’re inside the palace. From time to time, we obtain a man. If we don’t obtain a man, we mix something with gum, make a dildo, and insert it into the vagina. Then we enjoy ourselves sexually, and it’s not called engaging in sexual intercourse. Why don’t the venerables do this?” The bhikkhunīs replied: “Sisters, the World-honored One has laid down a precept that this isn’t allowed.” Then they said again: “Venerables, we’re in the palace. From time to time, we obtain a man. If we don’t obtain a man, we pat each other to enjoy sexual pleasures, and it’s not called engaging in sexual intercourse. Why don’t the venerables do this?” Then two group-of-six bhikkhunīs patted each other. The other bhikkhunīs saw them and said: “She’s having sex with a man.” When they got 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 pat each other?” 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 did you pat each other?” When the World-honored One had criticized the group-of-six bhikkhunīs in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “These 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 bhikkhunīs pat each other, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“Patting” means patting with the palm of the hand, or with the foot, or with one vagina against the other; if bhikkhunīs pat each other, for the one who pats, it’s a dukkaṭa, and for the one who is patted, it’s a pācittiya. If both pat each other’s vaginas, it’s two full pācittiyas.

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 has a certain illness, if she comes and goes, if she does walking meditation, if she sweeps the ground, if she unintentionally touches it with a cane, or if she touches it with the hand while washing 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 74th rule.)