Confession 173

The 173rd training precept: Singing songs.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī came a brahmin householder’s home, and the women said: “Noble one, teach us to sing songs.” The bhikkhunī then taught them to sing. The lay people saw it and were upset, as explained before. The bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus told the Buddha. The Buddha asked Thullanandā: “Did you really teach others to sing songs 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 sings songs, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“A bhikkhunī” means Thullanandā etc.

“Singing songs” means singing songs with words and rhythms.

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