Relinquishment With Confession 22

Origin Story

At that time, mother Visākhā invited the bhikkhunī sangha and offered robes to absorb the menstrual fluid. She send a messenger to ask for their bodies’ measurements and everyone gave hers. Only Thullanandā didn’t give hers, and when the messenger asked, she answered: “I’m already free from desire, I don’t menstruate anymore, and don’t need this robe.” When mother Visākhā had finished the robes, the messenger told the bhikkhunīs: “The robes are ready, may everyone come and take hers.” The bhikkhunīs then all went there and sat down. Then Thullanandā’s menstrual fluid actually came out, and she was the first to take a robe. The bhikkhunīs took one in order of seniority, and the robes weren’t enough. The most junior one didn’t obtain one. Mother Visākhā asked: “Has everyone obtained a robe?” They answered: “The most junior one hasn’t obtained one.” She asked: “Why?” They answered: “Thullanandā first said that she didn’t need one, and didn’t provide her body’s measurements. Today, she was the first to take one, and so it wasn’t enough.” Mother Visākhā said: “Why did you first say you didn’t need one, and when the time came, you still took one, so that someone didn’t obtain one?”

The senior bhikkhunīs 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 is told by the bhikkhunīs: “Take a robe to absorb the menstrual fluid”, says: “I don’t use it”, and when the time comes takes it first, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya.’”

Explanations

This robe should be relinquished in the sangha. It may not be given to one, two, or three bhikkhunīs.

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

Even if she first says “I don’t use it”, if later there are spare ones and she takes one, the offense isn’t committed.