Confession 77

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, there was a householder, who due to impermanent conditions had lost his wealth, fields, and house. His family members had passed away, and there were only two persons left, the husband and the wife. The householder thought: “There are virtuous and happy people without distress. Unsurpassed among them are the renunciates that are Sakyan children. Why don’t I go there and ask for the going forth?” The husband then went to Jetavana and became a bhikkhu. The wife went to the monastery in the king’s park and became a bhikkhunī. When the bhikkhu received food, the kept the food and went to the bhikkhunī monastery. That bhikkhunī had earlier prepared a dish of vegetable and fruit sauce and was waiting for the bhikkhu to come. When the bhikkhu who was keeping his food arrived at the bhikkhunī monastery and sat down to eat, the bhikkhunī got up and offered the vegetable sauce. They both spoke about matters from the time of their previous household life. Because the bhikkhu became so angry that he couldn’t stand it anymore, he threw the food in his hand into the bhikkhunī’s face. And because the bhikkhunī became angry, she poured the hot curry on the bhikkhu’s head. Being dirty, they felt ashamed.

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, when a bhikkhu is eating, stand in front waiting?” 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 that 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, when a bhikkhu is eating, stand in front waiting?” 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, when a bhikkhu is eating, stands in front waiting, 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, when a bhikkhu is eating, stands in front waiting, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she stands there, she incurs a pācittiya. If after giving food to the bhikkhu, she returns to her seat, or goes to another place, the offense isn’t committed. (End of rule 77.)