Confession 73

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī had someone shave the hair around her anus and her vagina. The bhikkhunīs asked her: “What are you doing?” She answered: “Shaving the hair around the anus and the vagina, to look good.”

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 have someone shave the hair around the anus and the vagina?” 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 Thullanandā: “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 have someone shave the hair around the anus and the vagina?” 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 shaves the hair around the anus and the vagina, 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 shaves the hair around the anus, it’s a pācittiya. If she shaves the hair around the vagina, it’s a pācittiya. If she shaves the hair in any other place except for these two, it’s a dukkaṭa. (End of rule 73.)