Confession 114

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī took on students and didn’t give them requisites and the dhamma. The students said: “Preceptor, why don’t you give us requisites and the dhamma?” Thullanandā bhikkhunī said: “I don’t give you requisites and the dhamma.” The students said: “If you don’t give us requisites and the dhamma, we’ll go to another place.” Thullanandā said: “The Buddha has laid down a precept that you should follow me for two years. If you go to another place, you incur a pācittiya offense.”

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 take on students and don’t give them requisites and the dhamma?” 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: “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 students and don’t give them requisites and the dhamma?” 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 takes on a student and doesn’t give her requisites and the dhamma, 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 a student and doesn’t give her requisites and the dhamma, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she doesn’t give them, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 114.)