Confession 142

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 bhikkhunīs to go to the bhikkhu sangha after the rains retreat, and give an invitation in regard to three things: the seen, the heard, and the suspected. But the bhikkhunīs didn’t go to to the bhikkhu sangha to give an invitation in regard to three things: the seen, the heard, and the suspected.

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, when the World-honored One had laid down a precept and allowed the bhikkhunīs to go to the bhikkhu sangha after the rains retreat, and give an invitation in regard to three things: the seen, the heard, and the suspected, not go to to give an invitation?” 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. Bhikkhunīs should go to the bhikkhu sangha after the rains retreat, and give an invitation in regard to three things: the seen, the heard, and the suspected. Why didn’t you go?” 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 after the rains retreat, and give an invitation in regard to three things: the seen, the heard, and the suspected. If she doesn’t, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

Then the World-honored One had allowed a bhikkhunī to go to the bhikkhu sangha after the rains retreat, and give an invitation in regard to three things: the seen, the heard, and the suspected. The bhikkhunīs all went to the bhikkhu sangha to give the invitation, and they were disturbed and distracted. The Buddha said: “You shouldn’t all go. From now on, I allow to choose one bhikkhunī in a formal act with a motion as second, who goes to the bhikkhu sangha and gives the invitation in regard to three things: the seen, the heard, and the suspected, on behalf of the bhikkhunī sangha. 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 that the sangha now chooses bhikkhunī So-and-so to go to the bhikkhu sangha and give the invitation in regard to three things: the seen, the heard, and the suspected, 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 and give the invitation in regard to three things: the seen, the heard, and the suspected, 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 and give the invitation in regard to three things: the seen, the heard, and the suspected, 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 and give the invitation in regard to three things 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 said:) “You should choose two or three bhikkhunīs as companions 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 has finished the rains retreat, and the bhikkhu sangha has finished the rains retreat. The bhikkhunī sangha gives an invitation in regard to three things: the seen, the heard, and the suspected. May the venerables speak with us out of compassion. If we see the offense, we’ll confess it according to dhamma.’ The second and the third time should be recited likewise.” Then they invited on the same day as the bhikkhu sangha did their own invitation, and they were all exhausted. The Buddha said: “You shouldn’t do that. The bhikkhu sangha invites on the fourteenth day, and the bhikkhunī sangha invites on the 15th day.” If the bhikkhu sangha is sick, if the assembly is divided, if the assembly isn’t in harmony, or if the assembly isn’t complete, the bhikkhunīs should send a messenger to pay respect and send greetings. If they don’t, it’s a dukkaṭa. If the bhikkhunī sangha is sick, if the assembly is divided, if the assembly isn’t in harmony, or if the assembly isn’t complete, the bhikkhunīs should also send a messenger to pay respect and send greetings. If they don’t, it’s a dukkaṭa.

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

“Not committed” means if when the bhikkhunī sangha has finished the rains retreat, and the bhikkhu sangha has finished the rains retreat, the bhikkhunīs give an invitation in regard to three things: the seen, the heard, and the suspected, if the bhikkhus invite on the fourteenth day, and the bhikkhunīs invite on the 15th day, if when the bhikkhu sangha is sick, when the assembly is divided, when the assembly isn’t in harmony, or when the assembly isn’t complete, the bhikkhunīs send a messenger to go, pay respect, and send greetings, if when the bhikkhunī sangha is sick, … or when the assembly isn’t complete, they also send a messenger to 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 their life is in danger, if their celibacy is in danger, or if they’re held by force, and they do go to greet them, in all cases 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 142nd rule.)