Confession 86

Origin Story

At that time, the bhikkhunīs went to the houses without their five robes, wearing coarse, worn out robes. When the senior bhikkhunīs saw it, they criticized them 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 walks around without her five robes, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“Without her five robes” means if she goes from one house to another, or even just leaves through the door of her residence, it’s a pācittiya.

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

When she washes, dyes, beats, or sews them, the offense isn’t committed.