Confession 140

Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, fascicle 29 (Part 2.8, explanation of the bhikkhunī rules.)

Translated by the Kāśmīra Tipiṭaka master Buddhayaśas together with Zhú Fóniàn in the later Qin state.

The 178 simple pācittiya rules, part 6.

First Origin Story

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

Then the bhikkhunīs didn’t go to receive instruction on the instruction day.

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 these bhikkhunīs: “Why did you not go to receive instruction on the instruction day?” 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 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 not come to the sangha to receive instruction on the instruction day?” 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 doesn’t go to receive instruction on the instruction day, it’s a pācittiya.’” In this way the World-honored One laid down the precept for the bhikkhunīs.

Second Origin Story

Then the bhikkhunīs had matters of the Buddha, the dhamma, and the sangha, or they looked after the sick. The Buddha said: “I allow to inform the others. From now on, you should recite the precept like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī who isn’t sick doesn’t go to receive instruction, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī doesn’t go to receive instruction, unless she’s doing a suitable activity, it’s a pācittiya.

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

“Not committed” means if she goes to receive instruction at the time of instruction, or if she has matters of the Buddha, the dhamma, and the sangha, or looks after the sick, and informs someone, 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 140th rule.)