Pakiṇṇaka 29

The Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī. At that time, Sudinna had died, and his wife went forth. But her brother-in-law constantly wanted to make her disrobe. Then the bhikkhunī entered the village on almsround. Her brother-in-law met her, and then wanted to get hold of her. So she entered a great house, and said to the woman: “Something unusual happened. I nearly was raped.” She asked “Why?” (The bhikkhunī) answered: “My brother-in-law wants to disrobe me.” The woman said: “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you.” The bhikkhunī said: “I want to go and be with my preceptor.” The woman said: “If you want to go, you should put on lay clothes to give you a different appearance. Then you can escape.” So she put on bracelets and earrings, and lay clothes and accessories. And attended on by four or five people, she left. Her brother-in-law saw her outside, and thought: “This isn’t the bhikkhunī. It’s just a lay woman.” When she reached her residence, the bhikkhunīs criticized her: “Why are you wearing this?” She answered: “My brother-in-law wanted to get hold of me. As a means to protect me, I put on these things.” The bhikkhunīs told Mahāpajāpatī, and she then fully informed the World-honored One 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 break proper conduct? From now on, it’s no longer allowed to break proper conduct. If (a bhikkhunī) decides to break proper conduct, she’s no longer a bhikkhunī. If as a means to protect herself she breaks proper conduct, she breaks a minor vinaya rule, but she’s still a bhikkhunī. If a bhikkhu(nī) This must be a typo in the source text. It only makes sense to read it as “bhikkhu”.* decides to break proper conduct, it’s a thullaccaya. If it’s a means to protect himself, there’s no offense.”

Summary Verse

Saṅghakamma, silk, the vest, beautifying clients,

Planting flowers, jasmine, binding garlands, spinning thread,

And finally breaking proper conduct, the third chapter is finished.