Confession 89

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Rājagaha. At that time, two bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta lay down together covered by the same robe and did all kinds of impure things.

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 them with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called bhikkhunīs when you two people lie down together covered by the same robe?” Having criticized them 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 the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta: “Did you really do this?” They answered: “We really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha criticized them with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called bhikkhunīs when you lie down together covered by the same robe?” Having criticized them 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 two bhikkhunīs lie down together covered by the same robe, 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 two bhikkhunīs lie down together covered by the same robe, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever they lie down together, they incur a pācittiya.

There’s no offense: If each separately has a personal robe, the offense isn’t committed. (End of rule 89.)