Relinquishment With Confession 25

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, there was a bhikkhunī called Gifts-Exceeding(-Grains-of-Sand) Her full name is given in np22 and other rules.*, who had much understanding and knowledge, and was able to obtain much ghee, oil, honey, and sugar. There was a merchant who saw this bhikkhunī and invited her: “If you need any ghee, oil, honey, or sugar, come to my house and take it.” The bhikkhunī accepted the invitation. One time, Gifts-Exceeding(-Grains-of-Sand) bhikkhunī went to the merchant’s house and said: “I need ghee.” Then they gave ghee. Then she said: “I don’t need ghee, you should give me oil.” They gave oil again. She said further: “I need honey.” They gave honey again. She said further: “I need sugar.” They gave sugar again. She said further: “I’ve no use for sugar, return the ghee to me.” The merchant said: “Good woman, are you trying to see what shortcomings I have? I’ve just given one thing, and you said: ‘I don’t need it.’ Then you asked for something else, and said again: ‘I don’t need it.’ Do you think I only give to you? Many people are waiting for me, but because of you, so many people are inconvenienced.” When the householders heard about this matter, they criticized her: “These bhikkhunīs say of themselves: ‘We’re virtuous and have merit’, but they ask for one thing, and when someone has just given it, they say: ‘We don’t need it’, like queens and wives of high officials.”

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 her with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called a bhikkhunī when you ask for one thing, and when someone has just given it, you say: ‘I don’t need it’, and ask for something else?” Having criticized her 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 Gifts-Exceeding(-Grains-of-Sand) bhikkhunī: “Did you really do this?” She answered: “I really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha criticized her with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called a bhikkhunī when you ask for one thing, and someone gives it, and then you say: ‘I don’t need it’, and ask for something else?” Having criticized her 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 having asked for one thing then asks for something else, it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya.’”

Explanations

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

Herein, this is an offense: If a bhikkhunī asks for ghee, and when they’ve just given ghee, she says: “I don’t need ghee, I need oil, honey, or sugar,” it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya. If she asks for oil, and they give oil, and she then says: “I don’t need oil, give me honey, sugar, or ghee,” it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya. If a bhikkhunī asks for honey, and they give honey, and she then says: “I don’t need honey, give me sugar, ghee, or oil,” it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya. If a bhikkhunī asks for sugar, and they give sugar, and she then says: “I don’t need sugar, give me ghee, oil, or honey,” it’s a nissaggiya pācittiya. Whenever she asks, doesn’t accept, and still takes something else, she incurs a nissaggiya pācittiya. (End of rule 25.)