Confession 176

The 176th training precept: Keeping a brush made of aromatic herbs.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then Thullanandā entered someone’s house on almsround. She saw that the women kept brushes made of the roots of aromatic herbs to brush their hair and adorn the body. Then Thullā bhikkhunī herself kept adornments, and also told the women: “I’m now especially beautiful.” The lay people were upset. The bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus told the Buddha. The Buddha asked Thullanandā: “Did you really keep a brush made of the roots of aromatic herbs 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 keeps a brush made of the roots of aromatic herbs, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“A bhikkhunī” means Thullanandā etc.

“Keeping a brush made of the roots of aromatic herbs” means keeping a brush made of aromatic herbs.

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