Relinquishment With Confession 20

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, there were virtuous bhikkhunīs who were old residents, and the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta were guests. This residence received a gift of robe cloth, to be distributed among the sangha that spent the rains retreat there. The old bhikkhunīs said: “This is the last month of the summer (i.e. the rainy season), and this residence has received the kaṭhina robe. This is in-season cloth and should be distributed among the sangha that has spent the rains retreat here.” The bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta said: “You’re not well-learned. Even though it’s the last month of the summer, and you’ve received a kaṭhina robe, this is out-of-season cloth. It should be distributed among the sangha who is present.” Then the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta turned in-season cloth into out-of-season cloth and distributed it.

Among the bhikkhunīs were those of few wishes, who knew moderation and practised the austerities. When they heard of this matter, their minds weren’t pleased, and they criticized them with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called bhikkhunīs when you turn in-season cloth into out-of-season cloth and distribute it?” Having criticized them with all kinds of reasons, they explained it to the Buddha in detail. The Buddha gathered both sanghas because of this matter. He knew, and intentionally asked the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta: “Did you really do this?” They answered: “We really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha criticized them with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called bhikkhunīs when you turn in-season cloth into out-of-season cloth and distribute it?” Having criticized them with all kinds of reasons, he said to the bhikkhus: “For 10 benefits, I’ll lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs. From now on, this precept should be recited thus:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī turns in-season cloth into out-of-season cloth and distributes it, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“A nissaggiya pācittiya” means that this cloth should be relinquished, and the pācittiya offense should be confessed.

Herein, this is an offense: If a bhikkhunī turns in-season cloth into out-of-season cloth and distributes it, then whenever she distributes it, she incurs a nissaggiya pācittiya. (End of rule 20.)