Confession 141

Origin Story

At that time, the bhikkhunīs rode in vehicles to go to lay people. The lay people criticized them: “These bhikkhunīs are like queens and women of noble families. They ride around in vehicles. They don’t have proper etiquette.” 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 rides around in a vehicle, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“A vehicle” means a carriage, a palanquin, an elephant, a horse, or even just wearing shoes, all are called “a vehicle.”

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

If she’s old, sick, forced, or if she walks and her toes become sick, in all cases the offense isn’t committed.

Mahīśāsaka Vinaya, end of fascicle 13.