Confession 95

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Rājagaha. He spent the rains retreat in Rājagaha with a sangha of many bhikkhus: Sāriputta, Moggallāna, Anuruddha, Nandiya, Kimbila, etc. These great disciples all spent the rains retreat together with the Buddha. At that time, the bhikkhunīs wandered to other countries during summer I.e. during the rainy season.*. When they walked, they killed the fresh grass and small insects. The householders angrily criticized them: “The Buddha and a great assembly with Sāriputta, Moggallāna, Anuruddha, Nandiya, Kimbila, etc. spend the rains retreat in Rājagaha. These bhikkhunīs say of themselves: ‘We’re virtuous and have merit’, but they wander to these countries during summer and kill the fresh grass and small insects.”

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 wander to other countries during summer, and kill the fresh grass and small insects?” 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: “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 wander to other countries during summer, and kill the fresh grass and small insects?” Having criticized them with all kinds of reasons, the Buddha 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 wanders to another country during summer without a reason, 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 wanders to another country during summer without a reason, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she wanders, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 95.)