Confession 208

Origin Story

At that time, the bhikkhunīs looked at themselves in a mirror. Unhappiness about the path arose in their minds. … “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 looks at herself in a mirror, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

If she looks at herself in water, it’s a dukkaṭa.

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

If she has an abscess on the face and she looks to see it, the offense isn’t committed.