Confession 139

Origin Story

At that time, the bhikkhunīs stayed overnight in families that were “eating”. They heard the sounds when the husband and wife had sexual intercourse, and sexual desire arose in their minds. They were no longer happy on the path and thereupon returned to lay life, or became non-Buddhist renunciates. 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 stays overnight in a family that’s “eating”, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“That’s eating” means there’s a man and a woman who have feelings for each other, and “eat” and penetrate each other.

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

If she’s sick and needs to stay overnight, or if difficulties arise, in all cases the offense isn’t committed.