Confession 147

Origin Story

At that time, the Blessed One was among the Sakyans in Kapilavatthu, in the Banyan tree park.

Then an abscess had appeared on Bhaddā Kāpilānī bhikkhunī’s body, and she had a man open it. This bhikkhunī’s body was slender and soft, no different from the body of a heavenly being. When the man touched her body with his hand and realized how smooth it was, defiled attachment arose in him. He grabbed her from the front and wanted to rape her. Then she loudly called out: “Don’t do that! Don’t do that!” When the bhikkhunīs around heard her voice, they all came and asked: “Why do you scream so loudly?” Then she fully explained the reason.

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 Bhaddā Kāpilānī: “Why does a bhikkhunī have a man open an abscess?” Then they told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus went and told the World-honored One. The World-honored One then for this reason gathered the bhikkhu sangha, and criticized Bhaddā Kāpilānī bhikkhunī: “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 have a man open an abscess on your body?” When he had criticized her in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “This bhikkhunī has all kinds of taints, and is 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, on whose body an abscess or any kind of wound has appeared, without informing the sangha or another person, just has a man open it or bandage it, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“Sangha” is also as above.

If a bhikkhunī, on whose body an abscess or any kind of wound has appeared, without informing the sangha, has a man open it, every cut with the knive is one pācittiya. If she has it bandaged, every time the bandage is wrapped around is one 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 informs the sangha and has a man open an abscess or wound, or has him bandage it, or if she’s held by force, 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 147th rule.)