Confession 128

The 128th training precept: Spending the rains retreat in a place without bhikkhus.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then Thullanandā was traveling with bhikkhunī companions, and they arrived at a village. There was a householder who was rich and wealthy, and who offered to build a residence for the bhikkhunī sangha. He saw the bhikkhunī sangha, paid respect in front of them, and said: “Noble ones, please stay here and spend the rains retreat here.” When they heard this, they wanted to stay there, but a bhikkhunī said: “Noble ones, as the World-honored One has said: ‘Bhikkhunīs shouldn’t spend the rains retreat in a place without bhikkhus.’ Let’s go together to a place close to a bhikkhu sangha.” Thullā bhikkhunī said: “I’ve learned the three baskets. How could I not know the rains retreat procedure? Why bother going to the bhikkhus’ place?” The bhikkhunīs accepted what she said. When the rains retreat had passed, 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 spends the rains retreat in a place without bhikkhus, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

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

“A place without bhikkhus” is as explained above.

“Spending the rains retreat” means the three months of the rains retreat.

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