Confession 144

First Origin Story

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

Then, a very knowledgeable bhikkhunī passed away in Sāvatthī. Other bhikkhunīs built a stupa in a monastery where bhikkhus were staying. The bhikkhunīs often came to the monastery to stand around, to talk and to amuse themselves. Some chanted and some mourned and cried, and some adorned their bodies, and they consequently distracted the bhikkhus sitting in meditation. Then there was the venerable Kapila, who often enjoyed sitting in meditation. After the bhikkhunīs had gone, on the same day, he went and destroyed their stupa, and threw it away outside the monastery. When the bhikkhunīs heard that Kapila had destroyed their stupa and thrown it away, they all took knives, staves, clods of earth, and stones, and came, wanting to beat him. Then Kapila flew up into the sky by psychic powers.

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 want to beat Kapila with knives, staves, clods of earth, and stones?” 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 take knives, staves, clods of earth, and stones, and wanted to beat a bhikkhu?” 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:

First Preliminary Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī enters a bhikkhu monastery, 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 doubts and didn’t dare to enter a monastery where no bhikkhus were. The Buddha said: “I allow to enter. From now on, you should recite the precept like this:

Second Preliminary Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī enters a monastery where there are bhikkhus, it’s a pācittiya.’” In this way the World-honored One laid down the precept for the bhikkhunīs.

Third Origin Story

Then the bhikkhunīs also didn’t know if there were bhikkhus or not, and they only found out later that there were bhikkhus. Some confessed a pācittiya. Some had doubts. (The Buddha said:) “If you don’t know, there’s no offense.” The Buddha said: “From now on, you should recite the precept like this:

Third Preliminary Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī knows that there are bhikkhus in the monastery and enters, it’s a pācittiya.’” In this way the World-honored One laid down the precept for the bhikkhunīs.

Fourth Origin Story

They wanted to ask for instruction, but they didn’t know whom to ask. They had doubts and wanted to ask someone about them, but didn’t know whom to ask. They didn’t dare to enter a monastery. The Buddha said: “From now on, I allow to inform them and afterwards enter the monastery.” They wanted to pay respect to a stupa of the Buddha or a stupa of a disciple. The Buddha said: “If you want to pay respect to a stupa of the Buddha or a stupa of a disciple, I allow to just enter. At other times, you need to inform them and then enter. From now on, you should recite the precept like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī knows that there are bhikkhus in a monastery and enters without informing them, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī knows that there are bhikkhus in a monastery and enters without informing them, it’s a pācittiya. If she has one foot inside the gate and one foot outside, if she plans and wishes to enter, or if she sets a time to enter, but doesn’t enter, all cases are dukkaṭas.

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 doesn’t know at first, if there are no bhikkhus and she enters, if she pays respect at a stupa of the Buddha or of a disciple, if at other times, she enters after informing them, if she comes to receive instruction, if she wants to ask about dhamma and enters, if she has been invited, if the road passes through there, if her residence is inside, if she’s made to go by force, if she’s imprisoned and made to go, if her life is in danger, or her celibacy is in danger, 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 144th rule.)