Expulsion 6

Origin Story

At that time, the World-honored One was in Sāvatthī in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. Then there was a householder in Sāvatthī called Sāḷha Migāranatta, who was good-looking. Thullanandā bhikkhunī also was good-looking. The householder Migāranatta’s mind was attached to Thullanandā, and Thullanandā’s mind was also attached to Migāranatta. Then, Thullanandā bhikkhunī, with a lustful mind, let the householder hold her hand, hold her robe, they entered a secluded place together, stood together, talked together, walked together, leaned their bodies against each other, and made appointments. 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 Thullanandā bhikkhunī: “Why did you with a lustful mind let the householder hold your hand, and hold your robe, why did you enter a secluded place, stand together, talk together, walk together, lean your bodies against each other, and make appointments?”

Then the bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus went and told the World-honored One. The World-honored One then 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, Thullanandā bhikkhunī, did you with a lustful mind let this householder hold your hand, and hold your robe, … make appointments?” Then, when the World-honored One had criticized Thullanandā in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “This Thullanandā 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 with a defiled mind knows that a man has a defiled mind, and lets him hold her hand, and hold her robes, and they enter a secluded place, stand together, talk together, walk together, lean their bodies against each other, and make appointments, that bhikkhunī is pārājika, and doesn’t live in community, because she committed the eight things.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“A defiled mind” means that her mind has defiled attachment. “A man with a defiled mind” also has defiled attachment.

“Holding her hand” means holding her hand, up to the wrist.

“Holding her robe” means holding the robe on the body.

“Entering a secluded place” means a place out of sight or earshot.

“Standing together in a secluded place” means in a place out of sight or earshot.

“Talking together” also means in a place out of sight or earshot.

“Walking together” also means in a place out of sight or earshot.

“Leaning their bodies against each other” means a place where the bodies can touch each other.

“Making appointments” means at a place where they can engage in sexual intercourse together.

If that bhikkhunī with a defiled mind lets a man with a defiled mind hold her hand, it’s a thullaccaya. If he holds her robe, it’s a thullaccaya. If they enter a secluded place, stand together in a secluded place, talk together in a secluded place, walk together in a secluded place, and for pleasure lean their bodies against each other, each is a thullaccaya.

If she doesn’t reveal and confess these seven things, and hasn’t removed the offenses, if she commits the eighth thing, it’s a pārājika. If, with a god, a dragon, an asura, a yakkha, a hungry ghost, or an animal that can change shape, she commits the seven things, each is a dukkaṭa. If she commits the eighth thing, it’s a thullaccaya. If she commits the eight things with an animal that can’t change shape, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she commits the eight things with a woman with a defiled mind, it’s a dukkaṭa.

For a bhikkhu, this is treated according to whatever he committed. For a sikkhamānā, a sāmaṇera, and a sāmaṇerī, it’s a dukkaṭa. This is called “to commit”.

“Not committed” means if their hands come in contact when she takes or gives something, or when she jokes around, or if she holds someone’s clothes when she saves them; if they enter and stay together in a secluded place when she offers something, when she pays respect, when she confesses offenses, or when she receives dhamma teachings; if they enter and stand together in a secluded place when she offers something, when she pays respect, when she confesses offenses, or when she receives dhamma teachings; if they enter and talk together in a secluded place when she offers something, when she pays respect, when she confesses offenses, or when she receives dhamma teachings; if they enter and walk together in a secluded place when she offers something, when she pays respect, when she confesses offenses, or when she receives dhamma teachings; if people beat her, if criminals come, if an elephant comes, if a savage animal comes, if there are brambles, and she turns her body to avoid them, if she comes to ask for instruction Ovāda.*, or to hear the dhamma, if she’s invited, if she comes to the monastery, or if they make an appointment in a place where one can’t do unwholesome things, 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 sixth rule.)