Confession 137

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī. At that time, Kālī bhikkhunī wandered to another place when it was time for the rains retreat. She returned when the rains retreat had begun, and the rooms had already been allocated. She approached (a bhikkhunī) and requested: “This is my room. Return it to me.” (The bhikkhunī) staying there said: “It has already been allocated to me. You can’t have it.” Then they started to quarrel. A virtuous bhikkhunī called out: “Venerable, you may stay in (my) room.” (Kālī) entered, and brought a large amount of fire sticks and grass which she heaped up in the middle of the room. (The bhikkhunī) who had stayed there first said: “Venerable, these things we don’t use don’t need to be kept here.” Then (Kālī) replied: “Venerable, did you buy this room?” She answered: “I got this sangha room according to seniority.” (Kālī said:) “If this is a sangha room, then why can’t I keep (my things) here?” And she disturbed the other like this by body and speech.

For this reason, the bhikkhunīs went and informed the World-honored One. … She answered: “I really did this.” The Buddha said: “This is an unwholesome thing. Why did you, knowing that another has entered the rains retreat first, arrive later and disturb her? From now on, it’s no longer allowed. … Those who have already heard it should listen again:

Final Ruling

If a bhikkhunī knows that another bhikkhunī has entered the rains retreat first, arrives later, and either disturbs her herself, or has others disturb her, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“Knowing that (another bhikkhunī) has entered the rains retreat first” means the first rains retreat, or the second rains retreat. “Disturbing” means either disturbing her herself by body and speech, or having others disturb her by body and speech; this is a pācittiya. If she disturbs a bhikkhunī, it’s a pācittiya. If she disturbs a sikkhamānā or a sāmaṇerī, she breaks a minor vinaya rule. Even if it’s a lay person, she transgresses against vinaya and should mentally repent. This is what the World-honored One said.