Confession 110

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī took on a student and didn’t instruct her, and didn’t teach her the dhamma. The student said: “Preceptor, why don’t you guide me, and don’t teach me the dhamma?” She answered: “I don’t guide you, and don’t teach you the dhamma.”

The student told the bhikkhunīs about this matter, and they explained it to the Buddha in detail. The Buddha gathered both sanghas because of this matter. He knew, and intentionally asked Thullanandā 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 take on a student and don’t guide her and don’t teach her the dhamma?” Having criticized her with all kinds of reasons, he said to the bhikkhunīs: “You should carry out a formal act to stop Thullanandā bhikkhunī. If there are also others doing this, you should also carry out a formal act to stop them.

Saṅghakamma

‘A formal act to stop her’ means in a unanimous, harmonious sangha, one bhikkhunī should announce in the sangha: ‘Venerable bhikkhunīs, may the sangha listen. Thullanandā bhikkhunī took on a student and doesn’t guide her and doesn’t teach her the dhamma. If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha approve that the sangha carries out the formal act to stop Thullanandā bhikkhunī: “Thullanandā, don’t take on students anymore.” This is called the motion.’ In this way, (they do) a formal act with a motion as second. ‘The sangha has carried out a formal act to stop Thullanandā bhikkhunī from taking on students. The sangha accepts this, therefore you’re silent. This matter is remembered thus.’

Origin Story (continued)

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 takes on students when the sangha has carried out a formal act to stop 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 takes on students when the sangha has carried out a formal act to stop her, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she takes on students, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 110.)