Confession 97

Origin Story

At that time, the bhikkhunīs were staying in a monastery built by mother Visākhā. When the rains retreat had ended, they left the monastery empty, and went wandering without handing it over. Later, a fire broke out there. People saw it and told mother Visākhā: “The bhikkhunī monastery you built is burnt by a fire.” She then sent male and female slaves to go and save it, and they managed to not let it burn down completely. When the bhikkhunīs later returned, mother Visākhā asked them: “Venerables, you haven’t lost any property, have you?” They answered: “We lost such and such things.” Thereupon, they spoke at length about the lost items. Mother Visākhā criticized them: “Why did you spend the rains retreat at my monastery, and left without handing it over? Because of this, it was burnt by fire, but again you spoke at length about your lost things.” When the senior bhikkhunīs heard 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, when the rains retreat has ended, goes wandering without handing over the monastery, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

If she doesn’t hand it over and steps outside the gate with one foot, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she steps outside the gate with the second foot, it’s a pācittiya.

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

If there still are bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs coming to stay, or if there’s nobody to whom one can hand over, the offense isn’t committed.