Confession 137

Origin Story

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

Then there was a sikkhamānā, who took a robe and went to the monastery. She went to the bhikkhunīs and said: “Give me the full ordination and I’ll give you this robe.” Thullanandā bhikkhunī said: “Younger sister, give me the robe and I’ll give you the full ordination.” Then (the sikkhamānā) took the robe and gave it to her. When Thullanandā had received the robe, she still didn’t make plans to give her the full ordination. Then the sikkhamānā was upset and said: “Why did you tell me: ‘Venerable younger sister, give me the robe and I’ll give you the full ordination’, but when you had received my robe, you didn’t give me the full ordination?”

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 promise a sikkhamānā: ‘Younger sister, bring me a robe and I’ll give you the full ordination’, but when you had received her robe, you didn’t give her the full ordination?” Having criticized her, they 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 say to a sikkhamānā: ‘Younger sister, bring me a robe and I’ll give you the full ordination’, but when you had received the robe, you didn’t give her the full ordination?” 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 says to a sikkhamānā: “Bring me a robe and I’ll give you the full ordination,” but doesn’t make plans to give her the full ordination, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“A robe” means there are 10 kinds, as above.

If a bhikkhunī says to a sikkhamānā: ‘Younger sister, bring me a robe and I’ll give you the full ordination’, but when she has received the robe, doesn’t make plans to give her the full ordination, it’s a pācittiya.

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

“Not committed” means if she promises to give the full ordination and then gives the full ordination, if she’s sick, if they then don’t live together, if there are no five robes, if there’s no assembly of 10, if (the sikkhamānā) is deficient in the precepts, breaks the precepts, breaks right view, breaks proper conduct, if she has been suspended, has been permanently expelled, or should be permanently expelled, if (the bhikkhunī’s) life is in danger because of this, or if her celibacy is in danger, and she doesn’t make plans to give her the full ordination, 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 137th rule.)