Confession 108

Origin Story

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

Then the bhikkhunī sangha obtained a gift of robes according to dhamma and wanted to distribute them. Then Thullanandā’s many students were wandering in various places and weren’t there. Thullanandā thought: “I’ll obstruct the sangha from distributing the robes according to dhamma. I fear that my students won’t obtain any.” The bhikkhunīs got to know this intention.

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: “Why did you think: ‘I’ll obstruct the sangha from distributing the robes according to dhamma. I fear that my students won’t obtain any.’?” Then the bhikkhunīs went and 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 Thullanandā: “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 did you think: ‘I’ll obstruct the sangha from distributing the robes according to dhamma. I fear that my students won’t obtain any.’?” When the World-honored One had criticized Thullanandā 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 thinks: “The sangha is distributing robes according to dhamma. I’ll obstruct them and not let them distribute. I fear that my students won’t obtain any,” it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“Sangha” is as above.

“Dhamma” means according to dhamma and vinaya, according to the Buddha’s teaching.

“A robe” means there are 10 kinds, as above.

If a bhikkhunī thinks: “The sangha is distributing robes according to dhamma. I’ll obstruct them and not let them distribute. I fear that my students won’t obtain any”, 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 they distribute out-of-season, if it’s done against the dhamma in a divided assembly, if it’s done against the dhamma in a harmonious assembly, if it’s done according to dhamma in a divided assembly, if it’s done with what resembles dhamma in a divided assembly, if it’s done with what resembles dhamma in a harmonious assembly, if it’s done against the dhamma and vinaya, against the Buddha’s teaching, or if when they want to distribute, she fears that (the robes) will be lost or destroyed, and she obstructs it and doesn’t let them distribute, 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 108th rule.)