Confession 199

Origin Stories

At that time, the bhikkhunīs created images of themselves, and had others create them.

Then Thullanandā also had someone create one. When she saw her image, defiled attachment arose in her mind and she thought: “My appearance is like this. Why waste it by observing celibacy?” 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 creates an image of herself, or has others create it, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“Creating an image of herself” means a painting, or a wooden (sculpture), or a clay (sculpture).

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

If someone secretly creates one and shows it to her, the offense isn’t committed.