Relinquishment With Confession 21

Origin Story

At that time, there was a junior bhikkhunī with little knowledge who obtained a cloth that wasn’t yet made into a robe, and she didn’t know how to do it. She took it, went to the other bhikkhunīs, and said: “I’m the most junior and have little knowledge. Please do it for me.” The bhikkhunīs said: “We’re very busy and aren’t able to do it for you. Please go to Thullanandā and ask her, she has made many robes, maybe she’ll exchange one with you.” The bhikkhunī then took (the cloth), went and asked Thullanandā, and exchanged it for a finished robe. When the bhikkhunī had obtained it, she returned to her residence. The other bhikkhunīs asked her: “Did you obtain a robe?” She answered: “I did.” They asked again: “From whom did you obtain it?” She answered: “From Thullanandā.” The bhikkhunīs said: “Bring it so that we can have a look together.” She then took out the robe and showed it, and the bhikkhunīs said: “This robe is many times better than your cloth. Previously nobody could obtain such requisites, but now you’ve instantly obtained it. This is really hard to get!” Then Thullanandā, who was next door, heard it and said to the bhikkhunī: “Return my robe, I didn’t exchange it with you!”

When the senior bhikkhunīs heard it, they criticized her in all kinds of ways, … “I now lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs, as explained above. From now on, this precept should be recited thus:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī exchanges a robe with another bhikkhunī, and later regrets it and asks to have it returned, and if she obtains it, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya.’”

Explanations

For a sikkhamānā and a sāmaṇerī, it’s a dukkaṭa.

If both regret it, or if she obtains a robe that isn’t as it was originally promised, and she takes the other back, the offense isn’t committed.