Confession 161

First Origin Story

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

Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī went to a householder’s home around dusk and just sat down on a seat. Having sat there for a moment, she opened the gate and left without telling the owner. Then there were some criminals who earlier had often thought about breaking into that house. When they happened to see that the gate was open, they entered, stole their valuables, and left. Then the householder asked: “Who opened the gate around dusk and left?” Someone answered: “This Thullanandā bhikkhunī.” Then the householder was upset and said: “This bhikkhunī knows no shame, she takes what isn’t given. Outwardly, she praises herself: ‘I know the true dhamma’, how is that the true dhamma? Then she plans to steal my valuables together with criminals. There’s no difference to criminals and prostitutes.”

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 Thullanandā: “Why did go to a householder’s home around dusk?” 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 Thullanandā: “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 go to a householder’s home around dusk?” 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:

Preliminary Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī goes to a lay person’s home around dusk, it’s a pācittiya.’” In this way the World-honored One laid down the precept for the bhikkhunīs.

Second Origin Story

Then the bhikkhunīs wanted to attend to matters of the Buddha, the dhamma, and the sangha, they looked after the sick, or were summoned by supporters. They all had doubts and didn’t dare to go. The Buddha said: “From now on, if you’re invited or summoned, I allow to go. From now on, you should recite the precept like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī, without first having been summoned, goes to a lay person’s home around dusk, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī, without first having been invited or summoned, goes to a lay person’s home around dusk and enters through the gate, it’s a pācittiya. If she has one foot outside the gate and one foot inside, if she plans and wishes to go but doesn’t go, or if she makes an appointment to go but doesn’t go, all cases are dukkaṭas. If a bhikkhunī goes to a lay person’s home, stays there for a moment, and leaves without telling the owner, when she goes through the gate it’s a pācittiya. If she plans and wishes to go but doesn’t go, or if she makes an appointment to go but doesn’t go, 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 attends to matters of the Buddha, the dhamma, and the sangha, or if she looks after the sick, if she’s invited or summoned and goes, if she’s held by force, if she’s arrested and made to go, if her life is in danger, or if her celibacy is in danger, and she goes to someone’s home without first being summoned; or if she stays there for a moment and leaves after telling the owner, if that house is on fire and collapses, if there’s a poisonous snake, a criminal, or a savage animal, if she’s held by force, if she’s arrested and made to go, if her life is in danger, or if her celibacy is in danger, and she leaves without telling the owner, 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 161st rule.)