Confession 101

Origin Story

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

Then the group-of-six bhikkhunīs bathed naked in a river, a spring, a pond, and deep water Variant reading: a canal.*. Female criminals and prostitutes went to the bhikkhunīs and said: “You’re young, hair doesn’t yet grow below your armpits. Why did you go forth to train in the path and practise celibacy? As you’re now young, you can amuse yourselves in the passions with each other, and when you’re old you can practise celibacy. Like this, you’ll fully obtain two things.” When the younger women among them heard this, dissatisfaction arose in their minds. When the householders saw this, they were all upset and said: “These bhikkhunīs know no shame. Outwardly, they praise themselves: ‘We know the true dhamma’, how is that the true dhamma? They bathe naked in a river, a spring, a pond, and deep water Variant reading: a canal.*. There’s no difference to prostitutes and criminals.”

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 bathe naked in a river, a spring, a pond, and deep water?” Then the bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus went and told the Buddha. The Buddha 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, bhikkhunīs, did you bathe naked in a river, a pond, a spring, and deep water?” 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:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī bathes naked in a river, a spring, deep water, The pātimokkha says “a stream” instead of “deep water”.* or a pond, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

A bhikkhunī should conceal her body with four things to bathe. Either with a place where the bank of the river bends, or with a place where the shade of a tree conceals her, or if the water is screened off, or if her body is concealed by a robe. In the first three situations, she may not give and take utensils from others. If she’s concealed by a robe, she may do everything that’s according to dhamma. If a bhikkhunī bathes naked in a river, a pond, a spring, or deep water, and if she’s completely immersed, it’s a pācittiya. If she’s not completely immersed, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she plans and wants to bathe but doesn’t bathe, or if she makes an appointment 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 it’s in a place where the river bank bends, if it’s in a place that’s concealed by the shade of a tree, if the water is screened off, if her body is concealed by a robe, or if she’s held by force, 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 101st rule.)