Confession 95

First Origin Story

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

Then the group-of-six bhikkhunīs wandered among the people at all times: during spring, summer, and winter. They encountered torrential rain and the rivers overflowed. Their robes, bowls, sitting mats, and needle cases were washed away and lost, and they trod on and killed the fresh grass. When the householders saw them, they were all upset and said: “These bhikkhunīs know no shame, they take many lives. Outwardly, they praise themselves: ‘We know the true dhamma’, how is that the true dhamma? Why do these bhikkhunīs wander among the people at all times: during spring, summer, and winter? They encountered torrential rain from the sky and the rivers overflowed. Various things were washed away and lost, and moreover they trod on and killed the fresh grass. They took many lives.”

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 criticized the group-of-six bhikkhunīs: “Why did you wander among the people at all times: during spring, summer, and winter? You encountered rain and the rivers overflowed. Your robes and things were washed away and lost, and you trod on and killed the fresh grass, which made the householders upset.” 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 wander among the people at all times: during spring, summer, and winter? You encountered rain and the rivers overflowed. Your robes and things were washed away and lost, and you trod on and killed the fresh grass, which made the householders upset.” 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 a bhikkhunī wanders among the people at all times: during spring, summer, and winter, it’s a pācittiya.’” In this way the World-honored One laid down the precept for the bhikkhunīs.

Second Origin Story

If a bhikkhunī attends to matters of the Buddha, the dhamma, the sangha, or to a sick bhikkhunī’s matters, the Buddha has said: “I allow to undergo a seven-day procedure, and leave the territory. From now on, you should recite the precept like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī wanders among the people at all times: during spring, summer, and winter, unless there’s a suitable reason, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī wanders among the people at all times: during spring, summer, and winter, whenever she enters a village territory, each time is a pācittiya. If there’s no village and no place with a territory, whenever she walks 10 leagues, it’s a pācittiya. If she walks less than the distance of a village, or less than 10 leagues, it’s a dukkaṭa. If within one village, she walks in one territory, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she plans and wants to go but doesn’t go, or if she makes an appointment to go but doesn’t go, in all cases 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 attends to matters of the Buddha, the dhamma, the sangha, or to a sick bhikkhunī’s matters, she undergoes a seven-day procedure and leaves the territory, if she’s held by force, if she’s arrested and made to go, 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 95th rule.)