Confession 158

First Origin Story

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

Then the group-of-six bhikkhunīs walked around wearing leather sandals and holding umbrellas in their hands. When the householders saw this, they were all upset: “These bhikkhunīs know no shame, they’ve broken celibacy. Outwardly, they praise themselves: ‘We know the true dhamma’, how is that the true dhamma? They walk around wearing leather sandals and holding umbrellas. There’s no difference to prostitutes and criminals.”

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 the group-of-six bhikkhunīs: “Why did you walk around wearing leather sandals and holding umbrellas in your hands?” 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 the group-of-six 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 walk around wearing leather sandals and holding umbrellas in your hands?” 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:

Preliminary Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī walks on a road wearing leather sandals and holding an umbrella, it’s a pācittiya.’” In this way the World-honored One laid down the precept for the bhikkhunīs.

Second Origin Story

Then when the bhikkhunīs went to the dining place, to a gathering at night, or to recite the precepts, they encountered rain while walking, and it soaked and destroyed the color of newly-dyed robes. The Buddha said: “From now on, I allow to make umbrellas from tree bark, leaves, or bamboo inside the monastery, to protect the body, the robes, and the bedding.”

Third Origin Story

Then there was a bhikkhunī who dirtied her bare feet while walking in the mud when it was raining. She soiled her feet, her robes, and the sitting mat. The Buddha said: “From now on, I allow to make and wear sandals inside the monastery, to protect the body, the robes, and the sitting mat.”

Fourth Origin Story

Although the bhikkhunīs made sandals, they still soiled their robes, their bodies, and the sitting mats. The Buddha said: “From now on, I allow to attach tree bark underneath. If the bark falls off, to sew it with thread. If (the thread) breaks, I allow to use sinews or hair, or to use strips of leather to tie it. From now on, you should recite the precept like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī walks around wearing leather sandals and holding an umbrella, except at a suitable time for a good reason, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī walks around wearing leather sandals and holding an umbrella, except at a suitable time for a good reason, it’s a pācittiya. If a bhikkhunī walks around wearing leather sandals and holding an umbrella, whenever she reaches the territory of a village, each village is a pācittiya. Whenever she walks 10 leagues in the wilderness where there’s no village, it’s a pācittiya. If she walks less than the distance of a village territory, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she walks less than 10 leagues, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she walks within a territory, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she plans and wants to go but doesn’t go, or if she makes an appointment to go but doesn’t go, in all cases it’s a dukkaṭa.

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 has a certain illness at that time, if she makes an umbrella from tree bark, leaves, or bamboo inside the monastery to protect her body, robes, and bedding, or if she makes and wears sandals inside the monastery to protect her body, robes, and bedding, the offense isn’t committed.

If she’s held by force, if she’s imprisoned, if her life is in danger, or if her celibacy is in danger, and she walks around wearing leather sandals and holding an umbrella, 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 158th rule.)

Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, fascicle 29.