Confession 91

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying in Sāvatthī. At that time, a husband and a wife had gone forth. When the husband Mahallaka came, she gave him food, and stood at one side. Her husband spoke of previous times, when the woman had done unwholesome things. Hearing that, she was unhappy and said: “Short-lived old man, you don’t know gratitude. What shouldn’t be talked about, you talk about.” The bhikkhunīs criticized her: “Venerable, you may not scold a respected bhikkhu like this.” She then said to the bhikkhunīs: “This short-lived old man doesn’t know gratitude. What shouldn’t be talked about, he talks about.”

The bhikkhunīs told Mahāpajāpatī, and she went to the World-honored One, and informed him of this matter. The Buddha said: “Summon her.” 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. From now on, it’s no longer allowed for a bhikkhunī to criticize and scold a bhikkhu face to face.” The Buddha told Mahāpajāpatī: “Convene all the bhikkhunīs living in the vicinity of Sāvatthī. … Those who have already heard it should listen again:

Final Ruling

If a bhikkhunī criticizes and scolds a bhikkhu face to face, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” is as explained above. “Face to face” means the four eyes facing each other. “Criticizing and scolding” means saying: “This short-lived old man is no good and doesn’t know gratitude”; this is a pācittiya. “Pācittiya” is as explained above. A bhikkhunī may not criticize and scold a bhikkhu face-to-face. If her brothers or other relatives have gone forth, and they practise not keeping the precepts, she also may not criticize or scold them. She should teach them with gentle words. If they’re young, she should say: “Relative, don’t act like this. If you don’t train now, when will you train? Later, your students will learn to do the unwholesome from you.” If they’re old, she should say: “Relative, if you don’t train now, are you waiting until you’re old and die to train?” A bhikkhu also may not criticize and scold a bhikkhunī face to face: “This shaven-headed woman is a lewd woman.” … “Old woman, you’re no good and don’t know gratitude.” He may teach her with gentle words as above. If a bhikkhu criticizes and scolds a bhikkhunī face to face, he breaks a minor vinaya rule. This is what the World-honored One said.