Confession 83

The 83rd training precept: Standing alone with a man outdoors.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī stood alone with a man outdoors. When the brahmin householders etc. had seen them, they got upset and said to each other: “This bhikkhunī hasn’t gone forth for extinguishment. She even has a date alone with a man outdoors.” The bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus told the Buddha. The Buddha asked and criticized, as explained in detail above, down to: “I’ll lay down another training precept. You should recite it like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī stands alone with a man outdoors, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“A bhikkhunī” means Thullā bhikkhunī, or any other bhikkhunī.

“Alone with a man” means with a lay man.

“Standing outdoors” means openly visible without obstructions.

… If they stand, they all incur a pācittiya offense.