Confession 115

Origin Story

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

Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī, when the right time had come, put on her robes, took her bowl, went to a householder’s home, and sat down on a laid out seat. The lady of the house had removed her ornaments and clothes and had entered the backyard to bathe. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī just put on her ornaments and clothes, and lay down on the householders’ bed. When the householder, who had earlier gone out and not been there, but who later returned and entered the house, suddenly saw Thullanandā, he thought it was his wife. Then he immediately lay down, took her hand, caressed her, and kissed her mouth. When he caressed her, he noticed that her head was bald, and then he asked: “Who’re you?” She replied: “I’m Thullanandā bhikkhunī.” The householder said: “Why do you wear my wife’s ornaments and clothes, and lie on my bed? When I saw you, it made me think you’re my wife. Quickly leave! From now on, don’t come and enter my house again!”

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 put on the wife’s ornaments and clothes and lie down on the bed?” 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 enter a lay house, put on the wife’s ornaments and clothes and lie down on the bed, which made the householder upset and blame you?” When he had criticized her 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 enters a lay house and sits or lies down on a small or large bed, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“A lay house” means a village.

“A small bed” means a bench for sitting.

“A large bed” means a bed for sleeping.

If a bhikkhunī enters a lay house and sits or lies down on a small or large bed, whenever she places her flanks on the bed, each time she turns over is 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 she has a certain illness at that time, if she sits on a one-person bench, if she lays out many seats for the bhikkhunī sangha, if she’s sick and falls to the ground, if she’s held by force, if she’s imprisoned, if her life is in danger, or if her celibacy is in danger, 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 115th rule.)