Confession 99

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Kālī bhikkhunī, who was formerly a non-Buddhist renunciate, liked to wander for sightseeing. This bhikkhunī got up early, went into a brahminical temple, to a theater, to a debating hall, to the residence of renunciates, and visited a picture gallery. The householders criticized her: “These bhikkhunīs say of themselves: ‘We’re virtuous and have merit’, but she intentionally goes to see a picture gallery, like a non-Buddhist renunciate.”

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 Kālī bhikkhunī: “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 intentionally go to see a picture gallery?” 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 intentionally goes to see a picture gallery, 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 intentionally goes to see a picture gallery, and she’s able to see it, it’s a pācittiya. If she’s not able to see it, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she goes from below to a high place to be able to see it, it’s a pācittiya. If she’s not able to see it, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she goes from a high place to a low place to be able to see it, it’s a pācittiya. If she’s not able to see it, it’s a dukkaṭa. If she goes unintentionally, and the road passes by there, the offense isn’t committed. (End of rule 99.)