Confession 129

Origin Story

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

Then, the bhikkhunīs ordained many students, and later, they all left their preceptors. They weren’t instructed by them, not 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 asked: “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: “After we received the full ordination, we left our preceptors. Because we weren’t instructed by them, (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 these bhikkhunīs: “Why did you, after receiving the full ordination, leave your preceptors? You weren’t instructed by them, weren’t established in proper conduct, didn’t wear your robes neatly, did your 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 had criticized them, they went and told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus told the Buddha. The Buddha for this reason gathered the bhikkhu sangha and criticized these 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, after receiving the full ordination, leave your preceptors? You weren’t instructed by them, weren’t established in proper conduct, didn’t wear your robes neatly, did your 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 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:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī doesn’t follow her preceptor for two years, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī doesn’t follow her preceptor for two years, 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 she, after receiving the full ordination, follows her preceptor for two years. If the preceptor allows her to go, she may go. If the preceptor has broken the precepts, or has broken right view, or has broken proper conduct, and has been suspended, has 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, and she leaves during the two years, 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 129th rule.)