Confession 121

The 121st training precept: Giving the going forth to someone not released by the husband.

Origin Story

At Sāvatthī. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī went on almsround in the city and entered someone’s house. She saw that there was a woman being beaten by her husband, and kept in a room. The husband went out, and Thullanandā said: “Respected one, may you be free from illness. Please give me food.” The woman replied: “Noble one, I’m now distressed and unable to give food.” (The bhikkhunī) asked: “What distresses you?” (The woman) then explained in detail, and the bhikkhunī said: “If that’s so, why don’t you go forth?” She answered: “I want to do that.” Thullanandā then took her away, and gave her the going forth. When the husband later returned, he searched for his wife but didn’t find her. Other people in the house told him: “She left and went forth.” He asked further: “Who gave her the going forth?” They answered: “Thullanandā bhikkhunī” “If she has left, who’ll do the household chores?” At a later time, the bhikkhunī went on almsround. He saw her and asked: “Noble one, you’ve given the going forth to my wife. Who’ll do the household chores?” Overcome with anger, he twisted the bhikkhunī’s robe around her neck and dragged her along, saying: “You gave my wife the going forth, so you can come and do the household chores for me.” 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 knows that a woman’s husband hasn’t released her yet, and gives her the going forth, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

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

“Knowing that a woman” means she’s a wife.

“The husband hasn’t released her yet” means the husband hasn’t allowed it.

“Going forth” means doing the head-shaving etc.

The rest is as explained before.