Confession 127

The 127th training precept: Carrying out the uposatha in a place without bhikkhus.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī was traveling among the people with many bhikkhunī companions, and they arrived at a village. Outside the village there was a bhikkhunī residence. That day was the 15th day, an uposatha day. The other bhikkhunīs said to Thullanandā: “Noble one, as the World-honored One has said: ‘A bhikkhunī shouldn’t do the uposatha in a place without bhikkhus’, please come and go with us to the bhikkhu monastery.” Thullā bhikkhunī said: “I’ve learned the three baskets. How could I not know the uposatha procedure? Why bother still going and wanting to inquire?”

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 carries out the uposatha in a place without bhikkhus, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

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

“A place without bhikkhus” means without the bhikkhu sangha.

“Carrying out the uposatha” means reciting the pātimokkha precepts sutta.

The explanations of the rule factors etc. are as explained in detail before.