Confession 98

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Rājagaha. At that time, a small country next to the territory of king Ajātasattu rebeled. He assembled four kinds of soldiers: elephant troops, cavalry, charioteers, and infantry. Having assembled four kinds of soldiers, the king himself went out to battle. The bhikkhunīs were wandering from the Vajjian country towards Rājagaha. On the way, they saw the king’s army. Among them were senior bhikkhunīs who knew the dhamma. They saw the army coming in the distance and said: “Let’s avoid them.” The young bhikkhunīs who didn’t know the dhamma said: “What’s the problem? King Ajātasattu has faith in the Buddha’s dhamma, prince Udāyibhadda, Jīvaka Komārabhacca, and Abhaya all have faith in and respect for the Buddha’s dhamma. We’ll just go straight there.” Having spoken, they went straight there, and they were robbed by the advance party and their bodies were exposed. The bhikkhunīs told the king: “The advance party robbed and undressed us.” The king said: “I provide villages, gold, silver, and grain as rewards to these troops. Only then they fight for me. Now the robes they’ve stolen from you can’t be returned. Outside this country is a dubious, frightening place now, why did you wander here? If the Buddha hears of this matter, he must lay down a precept for you: ‘The bhikkhunīs shouldn’t wander in a dubious, frightening place outside the country.’”

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 wander in a dubious, frightening place outside the country?” 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 wanders in a dubious, frightening place outside the country, 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 in a dubious, frightening place outside the country, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she wanders, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 98.)