Suspension 12

Origin Story

At that time, the Buddha was in Sāvatthī in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park. Then the World-honored One for this reason gathered the bhikkhu sangha, and said to the bhikkhus: “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 lives supported by a city or village and corrupts families, engages in unwholesome conduct, and her unwholesome conduct is both seen and heard, and her corruption of families is both seen and heard, the bhikkhunīs should admonish her, saying: “Venerable sister, you corrupt families and engage in unwholesome conduct, and your unwholesome conduct is both seen and heard, and your corruption of families is both seen and heard; venerable sister, you corrupt families and engage in unwholesome conduct, please leave this village now, you mustn’t live here.” If that bhikkhunī then says to the bhikkhunīs: “Venerable sisters, the bhikkhunīs have desire, anger, fear, and delusion. There are bhikkhunīs with the same offense, and some are expelled and some aren’t,” then the bhikkhunīs should answer: “Venerable sister, don’t say: ‘They’ve desire, anger, fear, and delusion.’ Also don’t say: ‘There are bhikkhunīs with the same offense, and some are expelled and some aren’t.’ Why? Because the bhikkhunīs don’t have desire, anger, fear and delusion. (There are no) bhikkhunīs with the same offense, and (it’s not the case that) some are expelled and some aren’t. Venerable sister, you corrupt families and engage in unwholesome conduct, and your unwholesome conduct is both seen and heard, and your corruption of families is both seen and heard.” If when the bhikkhunīs admonish that bhikkhunī, she holds firmly on to it and doesn’t give it up, the bhikkhunīs should admonish her three times to give up this matter. If she gives it up by the third time, it’s fine. If not, that bhikkhunī commits an offense that should be given up after three admonishments, a saṅghādisesa.’” (End of the 12th rule.)

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