Confession 89

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī went to a lay family, and praised the bhikkhunī Jetā: “She’s wise, keeps the precepts, makes persistent effort, … conducts herself with dignity when looking left and right, when wearing the robe and holding the bowl, speaking words that are true, serene, and have been carefully considered. Gods and humans make offerings to her. When supporters see her, respect arises in their minds and they offer robes, bowls, drinks, food, and tonics and medicines for the sick.” Thullanandā herself didn’t conduct herself properly, she wore torn and dirty robes that exposed her big belly, her breasts and her sides. Her manners were rough, and she talked much. People didn’t respect her, and didn’t invite her with offerings of robes, bowls, drinks, food, and tonics and medicines for the sick. Then she said: “Because I went to a supporter’s house, and praised Jetā, she receives these offerings. But because Jetā only speaks badly about me, I don’t receive offerings.” Jetā said: “Venerable, I didn’t say anything. Why should I say bad things about you?”

When the bhikkhunīs heard this, they 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.” The Buddha said: “This is an unwholesome thing. Why did you rebuke her without carefully investigating? This is against the dhamma, against the vinaya, against the Buddha’s teaching. One can’t develop in wholesome states like this.” The Buddha said: “From now on, it’s no longer allowed to rebuke someone without carefully investigating and listening to them.” 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 says to another bhikkhunī: “Venerable, let’s go together to such-and-such a family,” and if afterwards she can’t stand that bhikkhunī, and groundlessly, without investigating carefully and listening to her, criticizes her, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” means someone like Thullanandā bhikkhunī. “Family” means an aristocratic family, a brahmin family, a merchant family, a worker family. “Can’t stand afterwards” means like Jetā bhikkhunī. “Things she can’t stand” means the nine irritations, with baselessly arisen anger as the tenth. “Groundlessly” means rebuking her without first investigating carefully and listening to her. This is a pācittiya. “Pācittiya” is as explained above. If a bhikkhunī without investigating carefully and listening, rebukes someone, it’s a pācittiya. If a bhikkhu without investigating carefully, criticizes someone, he breaks a minor vinaya rule. This is what the World-honored One said.