Confession 166

The 166th and 167th training precepts: Applying perfume to one’s body. This is actually just precept 166. Precept 167 comes under no. 168.*

Origin Story

Location as before. Then Thullanandā applied perfume to her body and went on almsround. She entered someone’s house, and the fragrance of the perfume spread through the entire house. The brahmin lady of the house with respect and faith asked: “Noble one, where does the fragrance come from?” The bhikkhunī said: “I applied it to my body today.” The woman said: “Noble one, you’re already a renunciate, a Sakyan daughter. Do you still have a lustful mind?” And she was upset with her. The bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus told the Buddha. The Buddha asked Thullanandā: “Did you really apply perfume to your body and go on almsround in this way?” She answered: “I really did.” The World-honored One criticized her, as explained in detail, down to: “I’ll lay down another training precept. You should recite it like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī applies perfume to her body, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“A bhikkhunī” means Thullanandā etc.

“Applying perfume to her body” means applying and wearing perfume.

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

Mūlasarvāstivāda bhikkhunī vinaya, fascicle 19.