Confession 109

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī, without fulfilling the 10 requirements, gave the going forth to students and then didn’t teach and instruct them. They were like heavenly cows and goats. … The bhikkhunīs said: “Venerable, you gave the going forth to students without fulfilling the 10 requirements. Why don’t you teach and instruct them, and make them act according to dhamma?” Thullanandā said: “You’re jealous of my giving the going forth to students, and therefore you reproach me again and again.”

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, without fulfilling the 10 requirements, give the going forth to students, and then not teach and instruct them, but rebuke others? From now on, it’s no longer allowed to complain about others.” 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, when the bhikkhunīs say to her: ‘Venerable, not fulfilling the 10 requirements, you give the going forth to students. You should teach and instruct them’, rebukes them back, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“The bhikkhunīs” means a sangha, a group of several people, or one person. “That bhikkhunī” means someone like Thullanandā bhikkhunī. “Not fulfilling the 10 requirements” means that the 10 requirements aren’t complete. “Giving the going forth to a student” means giving the full ordination. If she rebukes them back when being admonished, it’s a pācittiya. “Pācittiya” is as explained above. If a bhikkhu acts like this, he breaks a minor vinaya rule. This is what the World-honored One said.