Confession 141

The 141st training precept: Exchanging a robe with a more senior monastic.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then a bhikkhunī named Kālī had a son called Vajjiputta and four daughters, all of whom had also gone forth. Kālī bhikkhunī’s son made a new saṅghāṭī, and wore it when he went to his mother. His younger sister saw that her brother’s robe was bright, shiny, and pleasing. Desire arose in her mind, and she asked her brother for the robe. The brother didn’t want to give it, and she cried. The mother said to Vajjiputta: “Why don’t you give her the robe and cause this trouble for me?” The son thought about his mother’s instruction, and truly couldn’t oppose her. So he finally gave the robe to his sister to wear. In the monastery, the next younger sister bhikkhunī said: “The venerable is wearing this outstanding robe. Give the robe to me.” She refused to give it, and (the sister) cried. The mother then said: “Please give it, don’t cause trouble for me.” Not opposing her mother’s instruction, she then gave her the robe. The bhikkhunīs said: “Where did you obtain this excellent, fine robe as though from the heaven of the pure abodes, that everyone desires to wear?” She replied: “May my older brother be free from sickness and at peace. With a robe such as this, who would say anything more?” The bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus told the Buddha. The Buddha asked if it was true or false that the robe had been taken from the older brother, and she answered: “It’s true.” The World-honored One criticized her in all kinds of ways, as explained in detail, down to: “I’ll lay down another training precept. You should recite it like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī exchanges a robe with a more senior monastic, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“A bhikkhunī” means a bhikkhunī in this dhamma.

“A more senior monastic” means senior to oneself.

“Exchanging a robe” means receive in exchange.

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