Confession 102

Origin Story

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

Then the World-honored One had allowed the bhikkhunīs to make a bathing robe. When the group-of-six bhikkhunīs heard that the World-honored One had allowed the bhikkhunīs to make a bathing robe, they made overly broad and large bathing robes. When the bhikkhunīs saw it, they asked: “The Buddha has allowed the bhikkhunīs to keep five robes. Which robes are these?” They replied: “These are our bathing robes.”

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: “The World-honored One has allowed to keep five robes. Why did you make overly broad and large bathing robes?” Then the bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus went and told the World-honored One. The World-honored One 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 make overly broad and large bathing robes?” 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 makes a bathing robe, she should make it to the measurements. “Should make it to the measurements” means six handspans of the Buddha in length, two and a half handspans in width. If she exceeds that, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“A bathing robe” means to conceal the body when bathing.

If a bhikkhunī makes a bathing robe, and the length exceeds the measurements but the width is acceptable, or the length is acceptable but the width exceeds the measurements, or both exceed the measurements, and if she cuts and finishes it herself, it’s a pācittiya. If she doesn’t finish it, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she tells others to cut it, and they finish it, it’s a pācittiya. If they don’t finish it, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she makes it for someone else, whether she finishes it or not, in all cases it’s a dukkaṭa.

For a bhikkhu, it’s a pācittiya. For a sikkhamānā, a sāmaṇera, and a sāmaṇerī, it’s a dukkaṭa. This is called “to commit”.

“Not committed” means if she makes it to the measurements, or if she makes it smaller; if she obtains it ready-made, she should cut it to make it according to the rule; or if she folds it, 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 102nd rule.)