Confession 171

Origin Story

At that time, there was a householder who invited the bhikkhunī sangha for a meal. Before the meal, the bhikkhunīs put on their robes, took their bowls, and went to their house. Some requested drinks from the cook, others requested things to be cooked in a pot, and still others requested rice. The cook thought: “I now prepare these foods, truly (intended) for these people. Whether I give now or later, what does it matter?” Then they gave everything, and the food and drinks were all used up. When the time had come, the owner struck the bell to gather the sangha, informed them to receive food, and the cook explained this matter in full. The householder then criticized them: “These bhikkhunīs are like little babies, they can’t endure even a little. They crave for food like this, what kind of path do they have?” 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 accepts an invitation, and just eats food as she pleases, when the owner hasn’t yet asked her to, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

If she eats food as she pleases when she hasn’t yet been asked to, each mouthful is a pācittiya.

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

(170.) This is actually the 171st precept. The numbering is out of alignment.*