Confession 94

Origin Story

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

Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī, at the beginning of the rains retreat, allowed another bhikkhunī to lay out a bed in her building. In the middle of the rains retreat, she dragged her bed out angrily, and expelled her. Then that bhikkhunī was ashamed and feared to lose her residence, and so she disrobed.

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, at the beginning of the rains retreat, allow another bhikkhunī to set up a bed in your building, but in the middle of the rains retreat, drag her bed out angrily, and expel her, which made her ashamed and disrobe?” 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, Thullanandā bhikkhunī, did you, at the beginning of the rains retreat, allow another bhikkhunī to set up a bed in your building, but in the middle of the rains retreat, drag her bed out angrily, and expel her, which made her ashamed and disrobe?” Then, when the World-honored One had criticized Thullanandā bhikkhunī in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “This Thullanandā bhikkhunī 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 at the beginning of the rains retreat allows another bhikkhunī to set up a bed in her building, but later angrily expels her, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“In the middle of the rains retreat” means when the rains retreat has been undertaken.

“A bed” means the five kinds of beds as above.

If a bhikkhunī at the beginning of the rains retreat allows another bhikkhunī to set up a bed in her building, but later angrily expels her, then whenever she makes plans and whenever (the other) leaves through the door, each time is a pācittiya. If she plans to expel several people through several doors, it’s several pācittiyas. If she plans to expel several people through one door, it’s several pācittiyas. If she plans to expel one person through several doors, it’s several pācittiyas. If she plans to expel one person through one door, it’s one pācittiya. If she takes the other’s robes or things out, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she closes a door to not let her enter, 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 she’s not angry and according to seniority she expels a junior one, if she stays together overnight with someone who hasn’t yet received the full ordination, and when two nights have passed, she expels her on the third night, if she makes a sick person go out to relieve herself in the toilet, if (the other) breaks the precepts, breaks right view, breaks proper conduct, if (the other) is suspended, permanently expelled, or should be permanently expelled, or if because of this matter her life is in danger or her celibacy is in danger, and she expels her, 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 94th rule.)