Relinquishment With Confession 21

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Rājagaha. At that time, the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta were old residents, and virtuous bhikkhunīs were guests. This sangha received a gift of robe cloth, to be distributed among the sangha that was present. The guest bhikkhunīs said: “This isn’t the last month of the summer (i.e. the rainy season), and this residence hasn’t received the kaṭhina robe. This cloth should be distributed among the sangha that’s present.” The bhikkhunī supporting Devadatta said: “Even though it’s not the last month of the summer, and we haven’t received a kaṭhina robe, this is in-season cloth. It should be distributed among the sangha who spent the rainy season here.” Then the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta turned out-of-season cloth into in-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 out-of-season cloth into in-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 out-of-season cloth into in-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 out-of-season cloth into in-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 out-of-season cloth into in-season cloth and distributes it, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya. Whenever she distributes it, she incurs a nissaggiya pācittiya. (End of rule 21.)