Confession 75

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī patted her vagina with her palm. The bhikkhunīs asked her: “What are you doing?” She answered: “I want to make it swell up for pleasure.”

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 pat your vagina with the palm of your hand, wanting to make it swell up for pleasure?” 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 pat your vagina with the palm of your hand, wanting to make it swell up for pleasure?” 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 pats her vagina with her palm, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“Palm” means there are two kinds: The palm of the hand, and the palm (i.e. the sole) of the foot.

“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 pats her vagina with the palm of her hand, it’s a pācittiya. If she pats with the palm of her foot, it’s also a pācittiya. If she pats with an object other than the palm of her her hand or foot, it’s a dukkaṭa. (End of rule 75.)