Confession 171

Origin Story

At that time, the Blessed One was in Cundaṭṭhīla.

Then a group-of-six bhikkhunī had been expelled, but didn’t leave.

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 bhikkhunī: “Why did you not leave when you had been expelled?” 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 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 not leave when you had been expelled?” 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 has been expelled and doesn’t leave, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī has been expelled and should leave, but doesn’t leave, 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 has been expelled and then leaves, if she complies, doesn’t oppose it, is humble, confesses the offense, and asks for release from the formal act of expulsion, or if she gets sick, if there’s no companion to go, if a waterway or overland road has been cut off, if there’s a danger from criminals, if there’s a danger from savage animals, if a large body of water with a strong current is flooding, 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 has been expelled but doesn’t leave, 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 171st rule.)