Confession 96

The 96th training precept: Just sitting before being allowed.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then Thullā bhikkhunī went on almsround. There was a brahmin who enjoyed clean things. The bhikkhunī on almsround entered his house. In the guest hall, there was a clean seat covered with a white cotton cloth. There was also a woman who held a whisk to chase away the flies and not let them dirty it. The woman asked the bhikkhunī: “Noble one, why have you come here?” The bhikkhunī said: “I’m on almsround. Please bring some food.” The woman said: “Noble one, if I fetch food, I fear that flies will dirty the seat.” The bhikkhunī said: “I’ll chase away the flies and not let them dirty it.” Then the woman entered the house, and the bhikkhunī sat on that seat with her unclean feet. She also soaked it with blood. The brahmin saw it and asked: “Noble one, you feet tread on the dusty ground. Why didn’t you wash them before sitting on the clean seat?” The bhikkhunī said: “You’re able to sit here. I’m a renunciate. How would I not be able?” Then she got up from the seat, and the brahmin saw that blood soiled the seat. He criticized her in all kinds of ways: “I see that this bhikkhunī has no shame.” The bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus told the Buddha. The Buddha asked and criticized, as explained in detail, down to: “I’ll lay down another training precept. You should recite it like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī just sits on a bed or seat in a lay house when the owner hasn’t allowed it yet, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“A bhikkhunī” is as above.

If there are beds or seats in a lay house, and if they haven’t allowed it yet, she shouldn’t just sit. The explanations of the rule factors etc. are as explained in detail before.