Confession 84

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, there was a worker in the bhikkhunī monastery in the king’s park. Because it was raining at dusk, he entered the room of a bhikkhunī supporting Devadatta. Then the bhikkhunī supporting Devadatta had a sikkhamānā who was grown up. Without having previously made an appointment, this worker touched the sikkhamāna during the night, and the sikkhamānā screamed loudly. Many bhikkhunīs gathered and asked her why. The sikkhamānā said: “Light a lamp.” They asked: “Why?” “Just bring a lit lamp.” Then they brought a lit lamp, and saw Thullanandā bhikkhunī sitting with a man in the dark.

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 sit together with a man in the dark without a lamp?” 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 her: “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 sit together with a lay man in the dark without a lamp?” 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 stands and sits together with a man in the dark without a lamp, 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 stands and sits together with a man in the dark without a lamp, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she stands and sits together, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 84.)