Confession 111

Origin Story

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

Then there were bhikkhunīs who quarreled with each other. They went to Thullanandā bhikkhunī and said: “Settle this dispute for us.” Thullanandā bhikkhunī was intelligent and wise, and she was able to settle arisen disputes, but in the end she didn’t use skillful means to settle this dispute. Then those bhikkhunīs didn’t obtain harmony in this dispute. They were distressed and consequently disrobed.

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, when the bhikkhunīs told you: ‘Settle this dispute for us’, in the end not use skillful means to settle it? Because of this, those bhikkhunīs didn’t resolve this disputed matter, and consequently disrobed.” Then they 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 in the end not resolve the dispute for them, which made them disrobe?” When the World-honored One had criticized her in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “This Thullanandā 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 is told by other bhikkhunīs: “Settle this dispute for us,” but doesn’t undertake any skillful action to settle it, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

There are four kinds of disputes, as above.

If a bhikkhunī is told by other bhikkhunīs: “Settle this dispute for us,” but doesn’t use skillful means to settle it, it’s a pācittiya. If there are small conflicts other than (formal) disputes, and she doesn’t use skillful means to settle them, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she herself quarrels and doesn’t use skillful means to settle it, it’s a dukkaṭa. If they quarrel with people other than bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs and she doesn’t use skillful means to settle it, 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 settles it, if she undertakes skillful actions, if she’s sick, if she says that she can’t do it, if the others have broken the precepts, or have broken right view, or have broken proper conduct, if they’ve been suspended, have been permanently expelled, or should be permanently expelled, if because of this issue (the first bhikkhunī’s) life is in danger, or her celibacy is in danger, and she doesn’t use skillful means to settle 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 111th rule.)