Confession 112

First Origin Story

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

Then Upananda the Sakyan had two sāmaṇeras, one called “Ear” and the other called “Honey”. One of them disrobed and the other joined a group of non-Buddhist renunciates while wearing the monastic robe. Then the group-of-six bhikkhunīs took food and gave it to the lay person and the one who had joined non-Buddhist renunciates.

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 criticized the group-of-six bhikkhunīs: “Why did you take food and give it to a lay person and to someone who has joined non-Buddhist renunciates?” 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 did you take food and give it to a lay person and to someone who has joined non-Buddhist renunciates?” When he had criticized them in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “These 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:

Preliminary Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī gives edibles khādanīya* to a lay person or to someone who has joined non-Buddhist renunciates, it’s a pācittiya.’” In this way the World-honored One laid down the precept for the bhikkhunīs.

Second Origin Story

They had doubts and didn’t dare to give it by placing it on the ground, and didn’t dare to have others give it. The Buddha said: “I allow to have others give it, or to give it by placing it on the ground. From now on, you should recite the precept like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī takes food with her own hands and gives it to a lay person or to someone who has joined non-Buddhist renunciates to eat, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“Lay person” means a person who hasn’t yet gone forth.

“Non-Buddhist renunciates” means people gone forth outside the Buddha’s dhamma.

“Edibles” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī takes food with her own hands and gives it to a lay person or to someone who has joined non-Buddhist renunciates, and if she gives and someone else accepts it, it’s a pācittiya. If the other doesn’t accept it, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she plans and want to give, but doesn’t give, or if she promises that she’ll give, but regrets it and doesn’t give, 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 gives it by placing it on the ground, if she has others give it, if she gives it to her parents, if she gives it to people building a stupa, or if it’s snatched 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 112th rule.)