Confession 128

Origin Story

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

Then Khemā bhikkhunī ordained many students but didn’t instruct them. Because they weren’t instructed, they weren’t established in proper conduct, didn’t wear their robes neatly, did their almsround not according to dhamma, accepted improper food here and there, or accepted food in improper bowls, and shouted loudly during breakfast and lunch like at a gathering of brahmins. When the bhikkhunīs saw them, they said: “Younger sisters, why aren’t you established in proper conduct, don’t wear your robes neatly, do your almsround not according to dhamma, accept improper food here and there, accept food in improper bowls, and shout loudly during breakfast and lunch like at a gathering of brahmins?” These bhikkhunīs replied: “We’re Khemā bhikkhunī’s students. She has many students but doesn’t instruct us. Because she doesn’t instruct us, (we’re like this.)”

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 Khemā bhikkhunī: “Why did you ordain many students but didn’t instruct them? Because they weren’t instructed they did many things not according to dhamma.” Having criticized her, 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 Khemā bhikkhunī: “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 ordain many students but didn’t instruct them? They weren’t established in proper conduct, didn’t wear their robes neatly, did their almsround not according to dhamma, accepted improper food here and there, accepted food in improper bowls, and shouted loudly during breakfast and lunch like at a gathering of brahmins.” 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 ordains many students, but doesn’t instruct them for two years in the training precepts, and doesn’t assist them in regard to the two things, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“The two things” means one is the dhamma, and the other are robes and food.

“Assisting in dhamma” means teaching them in the higher virtue, the higher mind, and the higher wisdom, in knowledge, and in the recitation of suttas.

“Assisting with robes and food” means to give them robes, food, beds, bedding, and medicines, and to arrange support with the necessities according to her abilities.

If a bhikkhunī ordains many students and gives them the full ordination, but doesn’t instruct them for two years in the training precepts, and doesn’t assist them in regard to the two things, it’s a pācittiya.

For a bhikkhu, it’s a dukkaṭa. This is called “to commit”.

“Not committed” means if she ordains them, gives them the training precepts for two years, and assists them in regard to the two things: one is the dhamma, the other are robes and food, if after they’ve received the full ordination they leave their preceptor, if they’ve broken the precepts, or have broken right view, or have broken proper conduct, and have been suspended, have been permanently expelled, or should be permanently expelled, and if for these reasons (the first bhikkhunī’s) life is in danger, or 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 128th rule.)