Confession 186

First Origin Story

At that time, Khemā bhikkhunī was intelligent and good at debating. She asked the bhikkhus about something difficult. The bhikkhus weren’t able to answer and felt greatly ashamed. Later when they saw bhikkhunīs, they just left the road and avoided them. Thereupon nobody instructed the bhikkhunīs anymore. They were ignorant and without knowledge, and not able to train in the precepts. When the senior bhikkhunīs heard it, they criticized her 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:

Preliminary Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī asks a bhikkhu about something difficult, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Second Origin Story

There were bhikkhunīs who had doubts and didn’t dare to ask about something difficult. Because of this, they were also ignorant and without knowledge, and not able to train in the precepts. They told the Buddha of this. The Buddha gathered both sanghas because of this matter and told the bhikkhus: “I now allow the bhikkhunīs to first address a bhikkhu, and if he allows to ask, then ask. From now on, this precept should be recited thus:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī without addressing a bhikkhu just asks him a question, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

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

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