Confession 74

First Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī inserted her finger into the vagina. The bhikkhunīs asked her: “What are you doing?” She answered: “Feeling a fine and smooth touch.”

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: “How can you be called a bhikkhunī when you insert your finger into the vagina to feel a fine and smooth touch?” 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 insert your finger into the vagina to feel a fine and smooth touch?” 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:

First Preliminary Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī inserts her finger into the vagina, it’s a pācittiya.’”

First Preliminary 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 inserts her finger into the vagina, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she touches it, she incurs a pācittiya.

Second Origin Story

One time, there was a bhikkhunī who stank because she hadn’t washed her vagina for a long time. The bhikkhunīs spoke with the Buddha about this matter, and he therefore gathered both sanghas. He praised the precepts and praised keeping precepts. Having praised the precepts and praised keeping the precepts, he said to the bhikkhus: “From now on, this precept should be recited thus:

Second Preliminary Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī inserts her finger into the vagina, except when washing herself, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Second Preliminary Explanations

Herein, this is an offense: If a bhikkhunī, when not washing herself, inserts her finger into the vagina, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she touches it, she incurs a pācittiya.

Third Origin Story

There was another bhikkhunī, who in order to wash herself, inserted the finger deeply into the vagina. The bhikkhunīs spoke with the Buddha about this matter, and he therefore gathered both sanghas, and said to the bhikkhus: “From now on, this precept should be recited thus:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī, when washing herself, inserts her finger into the vagina deeper than two finger joints, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Final Explanations

Herein, this is an offense: If a bhikkhunī inserts her finger into the vagina when washing herself, and she goes deeper that two finger joints, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she touches it, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 74.)