Relinquishment With Confession 17

First Origin Story

The Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī. At that time, there was a bhikkhunī who had a dirty saṅghāṭī. Having unsewn it, she dried it in the sun. A wind came up and blew it away.

The bhikkhunīs told Mahāpajāpatī, and she went to the World-honored One, and informed him of this matter. The Buddha said: “Summon that bhikkhunī.” When she came, he asked her: “Did you really do this?” She answered: “I really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha said: “Why did you, when you had unsewn an old saṅghāṭī, not sew it back together yourself or had others sew it?

Preliminary Ruling

From now on, it’s no longer allowed to unsew robes to wash them.”

Second Origin Story

At another time, there were women from the Sakyan and Mallan clans who originally came from wealthy families. 樂人 “happy-person” is difficult to translate. It renders the Sanskrit term sukumārā, “delicate” (Pāli: sukhumālā).* When washing their saṅghāṭī, the saṅghāṭī was thick, heavy, and hard to wash.

They told Mahāpajāpatī, and she went to the World-honored One, and informed him. The Buddha said: “From now on, it’s allowed up to five or six days.” 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 either unsews an old saṅghāṭī herself, or has someone unsew it, and doesn’t sew it back together, or has others sew it, for more than five or six days, unless she’s sick, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” is as explained above. “An old saṅghāṭī” means she wants to wash it, and unsews it herself of has others unsew it. “Five or six days” means a maximum of six days. If she doesn’t restore it by sewing it herself or having others sew it, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya. “A nissaggiya pācittiya” is as explained above. When a bhikkhunī washes her old saṅghāṭī, if it’s light and thin, it’s not allowed to unsew it. If it’s thick and heavy, it’s allowed to unsew it. Having unsewn it, she should wash it. Having washed it, she should stretch it out, place it on a reed screen, or on a straw mat, and press down the four corners with stones. When it’s dry, she should call the students practising with her, the students depending on her, nuns with the same preceptor or teacher, or bhikkhunīs who are her friends to quickly accomplish the work. If she’s old, sick, or has nobody to help, there’s no offense. This is what the World-honored One said.