Confession 155

Origin Story

At that time, the bhikkhunīs kept flower garlands. Some wore them, and sexual desire arose in their minds. They weren’t happy to practise celibacy, and thereupon returned to lay life, or became non-Buddhist renunciates. 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 keeps a flower garland or wears it, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

Even just tying grass and leaves to the head to look good, all is called “wearing flower garlands”.

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

If she’s forced, the offense isn’t committed.