Confession 96

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Rājagaha. After the invitation ceremony, he wandered to other countries for two months and all the great disciples, Sāriputta, Moggallāna, Anuruddha, Nandiya, Kimbila, etc., followed the Buddha and wandered to other countries. But the bhikkhunīs stayed on and didn’t go. The householders criticized them: “The Buddha was in Rājagaha. After the invitation ceremony, he wandered to other countries for two months and the great disciples, Sāriputta, Moggallāna, Anuruddha, Nandiya, Kimbila, etc., wandered, but the bhikkhunīs didn’t go. The unskillful, inferior women don’t want to leave this residence.”

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 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, after the invitation ceremony, don’t go to another place for one night?” 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 a bhikkhunī, after the invitation ceremony, doesn’t wander to another place for one night, 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, after the invitation ceremony, doesn’t wander to another place for one night, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she doesn’t go, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 96.)

Sarvāstivāda Bhikkhunī Vinaya, fascicle 44.