Relinquishment With Confession 14

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī. At that time, visiting bhikkhunīs had arrived, and the rooms were to be assigned by seniority. The junior bhikkhunīs who had lived there first said: “Venerables, wait, we’ll remove the bowls.” … The next day, the visitors asked: “Have you moved the bowls yet?” They answered: “We haven’t yet finished moving the bowls.” The visiting bhikkhunīs said: “Do you want to take these bowls to a pottery shop? What’s the use of so many bowls?”

When the bhikkhunīs heard this, they told Mahāpajāpatī, and she went to the World-honored One, and informed him. The Buddha said: “Summon those bhikkhunīs.” When they came, he asked them: “Did you really do this?” They answered: “We really did this.” The Buddha said: “Why did you keep spare bowls? From now on, it’s no longer allowed to keep spare bowls.” The Buddha told Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī: “Convene all the bhikkhunīs living in the vicinity of Sāvatthī. … Those who have already heard it should listen again:

Final Ruling

If a bhikkhunī keeps a spare bowl, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” is as explained above. The bowl in “storing a spare bowl” refers to an ordinary clay bowl Sumbhaka*, a bowl similar to an ordinary clay bowl Upa-sumbhaka*, a large bowl Utkaṭeyaka*, and an irregularly shaped bowl Vaṃkeṭaka*. These can be made from iron or clay. This is called “a bowl”. “A bowl” is also large, medium, or small; an over-sized bowl, an under-sized bowl, and a bowl for household usage. If she keeps them, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya. A bhikkhunī may keep sixteen bowls: one determined bowl, three bowls as pure offerings (to others) this refers to the vikappana procedure: transferring ownership to someone else*, four over-sized bowls, four under-sized bowls, and four bowls for household usage. If she keeps more, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya. “A nissaggiya pācittiya” is as explained above. There’s a limit to the spare bowls a bhikkhunī may keep. A bhikkhu may keep many (bowls) as pure offerings, and use them without offense. This is what the World-honored One said.