Confession 143

Origin Story

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

Then the bhikkhunīs spent the rains retreat in a place without bhikkhus. On the instruction day, there was no place to receive instruction from, and those who had doubts had nobody to consult.

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 spend the rains retreat in a place without bhikkhus? On the instruction day, there was no place to receive instruction from, and if there were doubts about something you had no place to consult.” 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 spend the rains retreat in a place without bhikkhus? … if there were doubts about something you had nobody to consult.” 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 spends the rains retreat in a place without bhikkhus, it’s a pācittiya.’”

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī spends the rains retreat in a place without bhikkhus, 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 spends the rains retreat in a place with bhikkhus, if she spends the rains retreat in dependence on the bhikkhu sangha, but during that time they pass away, or go on a long journey, or disrobe, or if she’s abducted by criminals, harmed by a savage animal, or washed away by water, 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 143rd rule.)