Suspension 9

Origin Story

At that time, the Buddha was in Sāvatthī in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. Then, grain and rice had become very expensive in the world, and almsfood was hard to get. The bhikkhunīs entered the city on almsround and returned with empty bowls, and Tissanandā bhikkhunī also entered the city on almsround and returned with an empty bowl. When the bhikkhunīs saw her, they asked her: “You always returned from almsround with a full bowl. Why do you return now with an empty bowl? Is almsfood hard to get?” She answered: “Yes.” They asked: “Why?” She answered: “Younger sisters, because I previously always went to a merchant for alms, I easily got it, but now I don’t go to him for alms, therefore it’s hard to get.” Then the group-of-six bhikkhunīs, Thullanandā, and Tissā bhikkhunī’s mother said to Tissā bhikkhunī: “Whether he has a defiled mind or an undefiled mind, what does it matter to you? You yourself have an undefiled mind. If you receive food, just accept it at the right time in purity.” 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 the group-of-six, Thullanandā, and Tissā bhikkhunī’s mother: “Why do you say to Tissā bhikkhunī: ‘Whether he has a defiled mind or an undefiled mind, what does it matter to you? You yourself have an undefiled mind. If you receive food, just accept it at the right time in purity.’”

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 the group-of-six, Thullanandā, and Tissā bhikkhunī’s mother: “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 do you say to Tissā bhikkhunī: ‘Whether he has a defiled mind or an undefiled mind, what does it matter to you? You yourself have an undefiled mind. If you receive food, just accept it at the right time in purity.’” When he had criticized the group-of-six, Thullanandā, and Tissā bhikkhunī’s mother 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:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī teaches another bhikkhunī by saying: “Venerable sister, whether he has a defiled mind or an undefiled mind, what does it matter to you? You yourself have an undefiled mind. If you receive food from him, accept it at the right time in purity,” that bhikkhunī commits an immediate offense that should be given up, a saṅghādisesa.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī says to another bhikkhunī: “Venerable sister, whether he has a defiled mind or an undefiled mind, what does it matter to you? You yourself have an undefiled mind. If you receive food, just accept it at the right time in purity,” and if she speaks and the other understands, it’s a saṅghādisesa. If she speaks and the other doesn’t understand, it’s a thullaccaya.

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 says it jokingly, if she speaks quickly, if she speaks in a place where she’s alone, 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 ninth rule.)