Confession 108

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying at Vesāli. At that time, Kālī bhikkhunī gave the going forth to a Licchavi woman, who was born as the third child, and who then lived closely together with lay people and non-Buddhist renunciates. The bhikkhunīs said to Kālī bhikkhunī: “You know that this student lives closely together with lay people and non-Buddhist renunciates. Why don’t you separate her, and send her to another place?”

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.” The Buddha said: “This is an unwholesome thing. Why did you, when you knew that your student was living closely together with lay people and non-Buddhist renunciates, not separate her? From now on, it’s no longer allowed.” The Buddha told Mahāpajāpatī: “Convene all the bhikkhunīs living in the vicinity of Vesāli. … Those who have already heard it should listen again:

Final Ruling

If a bhikkhunī, when there’s an issue with the student to whom she has given the going forth, doesn’t send her away herself, nor has others send her away, less than five or six yojanas, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” is as explained above. “The person who gives the going forth” means the preceptor. “A student” means a student who practises with her. “There’s an issue” means that the student wants to disrobe, or her parents, her relatives, her husband, or her brothers-in-law want her to disrobe. “Sending her away” means not sending her away oneself, or having others send her away. “Less than five or six yojanas” means a maximum of six. If a student lives closely together with others, one should send her wandering. If one is old or sick, and one can’t leave, one should ask others (to take her away), and teach and instruct her: “In being able to wander to other places, there’s a lot of merit. Pay respect at stupas or temples, meet well-practising sanghas, and see and hear a lot. If I wasn’t old, I’d also like to go.” If there’s an issue with a bhikkhu’s student who lives with him, and he doesn’t send him away, nor has others send him away, he breaks a minor vinaya rule. This is what the World-honored One said.