Confession 91

First Origin Story

At that time, the Blessed One was in Sāketa.

Then the group-of-six bhikkhunīs lay down two together on the same mat and under the same blanket. The householders saw it and said that they were lying down together 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 lie down two together on the same mat and under the same blanket?” 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 lie down two together on the same mat and under the same blanket?” 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:

Preliminary Ruling

‘If bhikkhunīs lie down two together on the same mat and under the same blanket, it’s a pācittiya.’” In this way the World-honored One laid down the precept for the bhikkhunīs.

Second Origin Story

Bhikkhunīs had a layer of grass or of tree leaves. They had doubts and didn’t dare to lie down together. The Buddha said: “I allow the bhikkhunīs to each lay out a separate sleeping mat. If during winter, there truly is just one blanket, I allow that each wraps her body in her robes underneath and then they may lie down together. From now on, you should recite the precept like this:

Final Ruling

‘If bhikkhunīs lie down together on the same mat and under the same blanket, except at the right time, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If bhikkhunīs lie down two together on the same mat and under the same blanket, when they place their flanks on the bed, it’s a pācittiya. When they turn over, each time is a pācittiya. If is is the same mat, but a different blanket, it’s a dukkaṭa. If it’s the same blanket, but a different mat, it’s a dukkaṭa.

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 there’s one layer of grass, or of tree leaves, and each (bhikkhunī) lays out a separate sleeping mat, if during winter there’s one blanket and underneath each one wraps her body in her robes, if she’s sick and falls to the ground, if she’s held by force, if she’s arrested, if her life is in danger, or if her celibacy is in danger, 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 91st rule.)