Suspension 17

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying in Sāvatthī. At that time, there were two bhikkhunīs, one called Nandā, the Sakyan woman, and the other called Uttarā. They lived closely together by body, by speech, and by body and speech, and they hid each other’s transgressions. “Closely together by body” means sleeping on the same bed, sitting on the same bed, eating with the same utensils, wearing each other’s robes, going out and returning together. “Closely together by speech” means speaking with a defiled mind, and hiding each others offenses. What the first committed, the second hid, what the second committed, the first hid. “Closely together by body and speech” means these two things together. The bhikkhunīs admonished them: “Venerables, don’t live closely together by body, by speech, and by body and speech. Don’t hide each other’s transgressions. Why? It doesn’t give rise to wholesome states.” After one, two, and three admonishments, they didn’t stop.

The bhikkhunīs told Mahāpajāpatī, and for this reason, she then went and informed the World-honored One. The Buddha said: “Summon those bhikkhunīs.” When they came, he asked them: “Did you really do this?” They answered: “We really did this.” The Buddha said: “This is an unwholesome thing. Why did you live closely together by body and speech, and hide each other’s transgressions? This is against the dhamma, against the vinaya, against the Buddha’s teaching. One can’t develop in wholesome states like this.” The Buddha told Mahāpajāpatī: “Convene all the bhikkhunīs living in the vicinity of Sāvatthī. … Those who have already heard it should listen again:

Final Ruling

If two bhikkhunīs live closely together, and hide each other’s transgressions, the bhikkhunīs should admonish those bhikkhunīs: ‘Venerables, don’t live closely together, and hide each other’s transgressions. Living closely together doesn’t give rise to wholesome states.’ If those bhikkhunīs, when admonished by the bhikkhunīs, persist firmly, and don’t give it up, they should be admonished a second and a third time. If they give up this matter, it’s fine. If not, this rule is a saṅghādisesa after three admonishments.”