Confession 102

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī was living with a bhikkhunī who was sick. Thullanandā bhikkhunī abandoned her and went to another village, because she feared that she’d have to support and look after a sick person. The bhikkhunīs went to the sick bhikkhunī and said: “Whatever things need to be done, Thullanandā can do everything for you. Now that you’re sick, how does she look after your sickness?” The bhikkhunī said: “Thullanandā should be able to support me?? Because she feared that she’d have to look after me, she abandoned me and left.”

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 her with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called a bhikkhunī when you abandon a sick bhikkhunī living with you and go to another village?” Having criticized her 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 Thullanandā: “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 abandon a sick bhikkhunī living with you and go to another village?” 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 doesn’t support a sick bhikkhunī living with her, 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 doesn’t support a sick bhikkhunī living with her, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she doesn’t support her, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 102.)