Confession 72

178 simple pācittiya rules

(Because the first 71 rules are in common with the bhikkhu sangha, they’re not included. From this 72nd precept onwards, 107 precepts are explained, since they’re not in common with the bhikkhus.)

First: The precept on eating garlic.

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, there was a man called Agnidatta who kept a garlic garden. That man’s garlic plants were growing abundantly, and he invited the bhikkhunīs: “If you need garlic, come and take some.” Then the sikkhamānas and sāmaṇerīs came and pulled garlic out in the first year, until in the second and third year, the garlic garden didn’t produce plants anymore. Even when they gave up going to the garlic garden, it couldn’t regrow again. Then there was a householder who planted garlic again in the old place. The sikkhamānas and sāmaṇerīs, because of the original invitation, came again to pull garlic out. The garden’s owner thought: “Who is stealing my garlic? I shall investigate and arrest them.” Then that householder observed from a hidden place and saw the sikkhamānas and sāmaṇerīs pull garlic out. The householder said: “Don’t take my garlic.” They answered: “The householder Agnidatta of Sāvatthī has invited us to take garlic. How is that your business?” That householder said: “The original owner of the field has given up the field and left because of what you did. Now I’ve planted garlic here. Don’t take it.” The sikkhamānas and sāmaṇerīs felt ashamed and said: “We didn’t know. From now on, we won’t dare to take it again.” The householders angrily criticized them: “These bhikkhunīs say of themselves: ‘We’re virtuous and have merit’, but they eat garlic like lay women.”

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 eat garlic like lay women?” 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 those bhikkhunīs: “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 eat garlic like lay women?” 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:

The second part of the origin story seems to be a stock passage that was inserted without properly connecting it to the first part. First, Sikkhamānas and Sāmaṇerīs pluck garlic, and later the bhikkhunīs seem to be the offenders.*

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī eats raw or cooked garlic, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“Pācittiya” means burn, cook, cover, obstruct. If she doesn’t confess the offense, it can obstruct the path.

Herein, this is an offense: If a bhikkhunī eats raw garlic, it’s a pācittiya. If she eats cooked garlic, it’s a pācittiya. If she eats garlic seedlings, it’s a pācittiya. If she eats the stalk and the leaves, it’s a pācittiya. If she eats the skin and the roots of the garlic, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she treats an illness or applies it on a wound, there’s no offense. (End of rule 72.)