Confession 96

Origin Story

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

At that time, householders in Sāvatthī had invited Khemā bhikkhunī and had set a rule: “We’ll provide for the sangha until the end of the rains retreat.” Khemā bhikkhunī’s rains retreat was over, but she then stayed on and didn’t leave. Then the householders were all upset and said: “We’ve previously set a rule: we’ll invite Khemā bhikkhunī to come and together provide for the sangha until the end of the rains retreat. Now Khema bhikkhunī’s rains retreat is over, but as before, she doesn’t leave.”

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 Khemā bhikkhunī: “The householders set a rule: we’ll invite Khemā bhikkhunī to come, and together provide for the sangha until the end of the rains retreat. Now the rains retreat is over, but you stay on as before and don’t leave.” 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 Khemā 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. When the householders have provided for you during the rains retreat and it’s now already over, why do you stay on as before and make the householders upset?” Then, when the World-honored One had criticized Khemā bhikkhunī in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “This 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, when the rains retreat is over, doesn’t leave, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī has finished the rains retreat, she should leave, even just one night. If a bhikkhunī has finished the rains retreat and doesn’t leave, it’s a pācittiya.

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 leaves when the rains retreat is over, if the householders invite her to stay on (and say): “We’ll still provide for you,” if she goes from house to house to receive food, if male or female relatives invite her: “Eat today” or “Eat tomorrow,” if she becomes sick and she has no companion to look after her, if there’s a danger from water, if there’s a danger from savage animals, if there’s a danger from criminals, if there’s flooding, if if she’s held by force, if she’s arrested, if her life is in danger, or if her celibacy is in danger, and in difficulties like these, she doesn’t leave when the rains retreat is over, 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 96th rule.)