Confession 86

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying in Sāvatthī. At that time, Kāli bhikkhunī gave the going forth to a Licchavi woman, who was born as the third child, and who lived closely together with lay people and non-Buddhist renunciates.

The bhikkhunīs told Mahāpajāpatī, and she fully informed the World-honored One 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: “This is an unwholesome thing. From now on, it’s no longer allowed to live closely together.” 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 lives closely together with lay people and non-Buddhist renunciates, or even with monastery attendants and sāmaṇeras, whether all day or just for a moment, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” is as explained above. “Lay people” means householders. “Non-Buddhist renunciates” means those gone forth in another religion. “All day” means until sunset. “Just for a moment” means within a moment. “Living closely together” means living closely together by body, by speech, or by body and speech. (If she does it) even with monastery attendants and sāmaṇeras, it’s a pācittiya. “Pācittiya” is as explained above. If a bhikkhunī lives closely together, it’s a pācittiya. If bhikkhunīs live closely together and take pleasure in each others company, their preceptors and teachers should separate them and send them to different places. If a bhikkhu lives closely together, he breaks a minor vinaya rule. This is what the World-honored One said.