Confession 86

The 86th training precept: Whispering into a man’s ear.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī, at breakfast time, entered Sāvatthī and with correct deportment went on almsround. She whispered into the ears of lay men. When the brahmin householders and people without faith and respect had seen them, they got upset and said to each other: “Look at this bhikkhunī. She hasn’t gone forth for extinguishment. She’s thrown away her wholesome qualities, and whispers into the ears of men. They must be on a date.” 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 whispers into a man’s ear, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

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

“Whispering into a man’s ear” means she and a lay man accept that she whispers into his ear.

… if they whisper, they all incur a pācittiya offense.