Confession 141

Origin Story

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

Then the bhikkhunīs heard that the World-honored One had laid down a precept and allowed the bhikkhunī sangha to ask the bhikkhu sangha for instruction every half-month. But the bhikkhunīs didn’t go to ask for instruction.

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, when you heard that the World-honored One had laid down a precept and allowed the bhikkhunī sangha to ask the bhikkhu sangha for instruction every half-month, not go to ask for instruction?” Then 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 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 go to the bhikkhu sangha to ask for instruction?” 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

‘A bhikkhunī should go to the bhikkhu sangha every half-month to ask for instruction. If she doesn’t ask, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

The World-honored One gave such a teaching that a bhikkhunī should go to the bhikkhu sangha every half-month to ask for instruction. So they all went together and asked, and because of this, the sangha was disturbed and distracted. The Buddha said: “You shouldn’t all go. I allow to choose one bhikkhunī in a formal act with a motion as second, who goes to the bhikkhu sangha every half-month and asks for instruction on behalf of the bhikkhunī sangha. You should choose her as follows: In the sangha, you should choose a capable person who can carry out formal acts as above. She should carry out the motion as follows:

Saṅghakamma

‘Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha approve to choose bhikkhunī So-and-so to go to the bhikkhu sangha every half-month and ask for instruction on behalf of the bhikkhunī sangha. This is the motion.’ ‘Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. Now the sangha chooses bhikkhunī So-and-so to go to the bhikkhu sangha every half-month and ask for instruction on behalf of the bhikkhunī sangha. Those of the venerable sisters who accept that the sangha chooses bhikkhunī So-and-so to go to the bhikkhu sangha every half-month and ask for instruction on behalf of the bhikkhunī sangha should remain silent. Those who don’t accept this should speak.’ ‘The sangha has accepted to choose bhikkhunī So-and-so to go to the bhikkhu sangha every half-month and ask for instruction on behalf of the bhikkhunī sangha. The sangha accepts this, therefore you’re silent. This matter is remembered thus.’”

Explanation (continued)

She went alone without protection, and (the Buddha) allowed: “You should choose two or three bhikkhunīs to go together for protection. They should go to the bhikkhu sangha and having paid respect at the sangha’s feet, with bent body, lowered head, and joined palms, they should say: ‘The bhikkhunī sangha in harmony pays respect at the bhikkhu sangha’s feet and asks for instruction.’ The second and the third time should be recited likewise.” Then the bhikkhunīs waited until the (bhikkhu) sangha had recited the precepts and because they stood there for a long time, they were exhausted. The Buddha said: “You shouldn’t do that. I allow to inform one senior bhikkhu and then to immediately leave.” When the World-honored One had allowed to inform, they then informed each bhikkhu. The Buddha said: “You shouldn’t do that.” They then informed someone going on a long journey. The Buddha said: “You shouldn’t do that.” They informed a sick person. The Buddha said: “You shouldn’t do that.” They informed someone without wisdom. The Buddha said: “You shouldn’t do that.” Having informed someone, they didn’t go again the next day to ask. The Buddha said: “You should go and ask if they can do it or not.” The bhikkhu should go at the set time and the bhikkhunīs should welcome him at the set time. If the bhikkhu sets a time to go, but doesn’t go, it’s a dukkaṭa. If the bhikkhunīs set a time to welcome him, but don’t welcome him, it’s a dukkaṭa.

If the bhikkhunīs hear that the instructor is coming, they should welcome him half a yojana away, and provide inside the monastery what he needs: bathing equipment, curries, porridge, rice, and fruits. They offer these things to him. If they don’t, it’s a dukkaṭa. If the whole bhikkhu sangha is sick, they “They” probably refers to the bhikkhunīs, as becomes clear in the parallel passage in the next precept, pācittiya 142.* should send a messenger to go, pay respect, and send greetings. If the (bhikkhu) assembly is divided, if the assembly isn’t in harmony, or if the assembly isn’t complete, they should send a messenger to go, pay respect, and send greetings. If the whole bhikkhunī sangha is sick, they should also send a messenger to go, pay respect, and send greetings. If the (bhikkhunī) assembly is divided, if the bhikkhunī assembly isn’t in harmony, or if the assembly isn’t complete, they should also send a messenger to go, pay respect, and send greetings. If they don’t go, it’s a dukkaṭa.

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

“Not committed” means if they go to the bhikkhu sangha and ask for instruction every half-month, if they inform today and ask tomorrow, if the bhikkhu sets a time and goes and the bhikkhunīs set a time and come to welcome him, if when they hear that the instructor is coming, they welcome him half a yojana away, and inside the monastery provide bathing equipment, rice, curries, porridge, and fruits; they offer these things to him; if when the bhikkhu sangha is sick, they send a messenger to go, pay respect, and send greetings, if when the (bhikkhu) assembly is divided, when the assembly isn’t in harmony, or when the assembly isn’t complete, they send a messenger to go, pay respect, and send greetings, if when the bhikkhunī sangha is sick, when the (bhikkhunī) assembly is divided, when the assembly isn’t in harmony, or when the assembly isn’t complete, they also send a messenger to go, pay respect, and send greetings, if a waterway or overland road has been cut off, if there’s a danger from bandits or savage animals, if a river with a strong current is flooding, if they’re held by force, if they’re imprisoned, if their life is in danger, or if their celibacy is in danger, and because of these many difficulties they don’t send a messenger to greet them, 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 141st rule.)