Confession 172

First Origin Story

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

Then Khemā bhikkhunī, who was very wise, asked the bhikkhus about the meaning of something. When the bhikkhus had been asked by her, they were unable to answer and were all ashamed.

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 Khemā bhikkhunī: “Why did you, who are very wise, ask the bhikkhus about the meaning of something? They were unable to answer and it made them ashamed.” 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 Khemā 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, who are very wise, ask the bhikkhus about the meaning of something? The bhikkhus were unable to answer and it made them ashamed.” 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 asks a bhikkhu about the meaning of something, it’s a pācittiya.’” In this way the World-honored One laid down the precept for the bhikkhunīs.

Second Origin Story

Then the bhikkhunīs didn’t know whom to ask for instruction on the instruction day. They had doubts and didn’t know how they should ask about the meaning of something. The Budda said: “From now on, if you want to ask about the meaning of something, you should first request permission and afterwards ask him. From now on, you should recite the precept like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī wants to ask a bhikkhu about the meaning of something, and asks without first requesting (permission), it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī asks a bhikkhu about the meaning of something, and asks without first requesting (permission), if she speaks and others understand, it’s a pācittiya. If others don’t understand, 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 first requests (permission) and later asks, if he has previously always allowed to ask, if previously they were friends, if his friend says: “Just ask, I’ll request an invitation for you,” if he receives (the dhamma) from her, if two persons together receive it from another, if he asks and she answers, if two persons recite together, if she says it jokingly, if she speaks quickly, if she speaks in a secluded place, if she speaks in a dream, or if she wants to say one thing but by mistake says something else, 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 172nd rule.)