Confession 172

The 172nd training precept: Dancing oneself and teaching others to dance.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī entered someone’s home on almsround. The lady of the house said: “Noble one, teach me to dance.” The bhikkhunī then taught her, and also said to her: “If in your family there’s a wedding, the birth of a son or daughter, or a joyous occasion, you should dance like this.” The people were all upset: “This bald renunciate shaved her hair in vain. She has desire and defilements.” They all went to the bhikkhunī residence and told them what she had done. The bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus told the Buddha. The Buddha asked Thullanandā: “Did you really teach her to dance, and danced yourself 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 dances herself, or teaches others to dance, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“A bhikkhunī” means Thullanandā etc.

“Dancing herself” means dancing herself.

“Teaching others to dance” means teaching others to do it.

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