Confession 175

First Origin Story

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

Then the World-honored One had laid down a precept and allowed that a bhikkhunī of 100 years (of seniority) who sees a newly-ordained bhikkhu should get up to welcome him, pay respect, be respectful, greet him, and lay out a sitting mat. Then the bhikkhunīs didn’t get up, welcome him, pay respect, weren’t respectful, and didn’t greet him.

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 these bhikkhunīs: “The World-honored One has laid down a precept and allowed that a bhikkhunī of 100 years (of seniority) who sees a newly-ordained bhikkhu should get up to welcome him, be respectful, pay respect, greet him, and lay out a sitting mat. Why did you not get up to welcome him?” 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 these 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, bhikkhunīs of 100 years (of seniority), when you saw a newly-ordained bhikkhu, not get up to welcome him, pay respect, be respectful, greet him, and lay out a sitting mat?” 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 of 100 years (of seniority) sees a newly ordained bhikkhu, she should get up to welcome him, be respectful, pay respect, and greet him. If she doesn’t, it’s a pācittiya.’” In this way the World-honored One laid down the precept for the bhikkhunīs.

Second Origin Story

There were some who ate in one session, who ate without carrying out the procedure for leftover food, who were sick, or who had enough food. They didn’t get up and had doubts. The Buddha said: “From now on, I allow to say: ‘Venerable, I’m sorry, I’ve such-and-such a reason and am not able to get up and welcome you.’ From now on, you should recite the precept like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī sees a newly ordained bhikkhu, she should get up to welcome him, be respectful, pay respect, greet him, and invite him to sit down. If she doesn’t, unless there’s a reason, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī sees a bhikkhu and doesn’t get up, unless there’s a reason, 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 gets up to welcome him, if she eats in one session, if she eats without carrying out the procedure for leftover food, if she’s sick, or if she has enough food, and says: “May the venerable accept it, I’ve such-and-such a reason,” if she’s sick and falls to the ground, if she’s held by force, if her life is in danger, or if her celibacy is in danger, 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 175th rule.)