Confession 90

Mahīśāsaka Vinaya, fascicle 13 (Mahīśāsaka).

Translated by the Kāśmīra Tipiṭaka master Buddhajīva together with Zhú Dàoshēng during the (Liu) Song dynasty.

Part 2.4, end of the 89th rule.

Origin Story

At that time, the bhikkhunīs didn’t enter the rains retreat. They wandered among the people and some encountered criminals of the eighth month The criminals of the eighth month are also mentioned in Mahīśāsaka Bhikkhu Nissaggiya Pācittiya 17 and Sarvāstivāda Bhikkhu Ajjhāya Pārājika 3.*, and others encountered difficulties from water and fire. When the senior bhikkhunīs saw it, they criticized them in all kinds of ways: “Why did the bhikkhunīs not enter the rains retreat?” … “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 doesn’t enter the rains retreat, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“The rains retreat” means the earlier or the later rains retreat.

If there’s no reason and she waits for the later rains retreat, it’s a dukkaṭa.

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

If the eight difficulties arise, the offense isn’t committed.

(90.)