Confession 113

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying at Vesāli. At that time, Bhaddā Kāpilānī bhikkhunī went to her relatives’ house and climbed on a high-footed couch bed on which two or three layers of mats were spread out. Laypeople and non-Buddhist renunciates were upset: “Why did this renunciate go forth? She’s like a lay person and has many such wishes.”

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: “Why did you sit on a couch bed that exceeds the measurements? From now on, it’s no longer allowed.” The Buddha told Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī: “Convene all the bhikkhunīs living in the vicinity of Vesāli. … Those who have already heard it should listen again:

Final Ruling

If a bhikkhunī sits or lies on a couch khaṭvā* bed with mats that exceeds the measurements, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” is as explained above. “Exceeds the measurements” means more than eight fingerbreadths. “A couch bed with mats” means the fourteen kinds of couches: … a paṃgula a couch covered with a piece of cloth*. If she sits or lies down on a paṃgula, it’s a pācittiya. “Pācittiya” is as explained above. If she sits down the whole day, it’s one pācittiya. If she gets up and then sits down again, she incurs a pācittiya whenever she sits down. If a bed exceeds the measurements, she may get the feet buried and then sit down. If a bhikkhu sits on a couch bed that exceeds the measurements, he breaks a minor vinaya rule. This is what the World-honored One said.