Confession 117

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī took on a 20 year old girl as her student, when the formal act of dependence on a preceptor hadn’t been carried out yet.

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 a 20 year-old girl as your student, when the formal act of dependence on a preceptor hasn’t been carried out yet?” 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 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 20 year-old girl as your student, when the formal act of dependence on a preceptor hasn’t been carried out yet?” 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 20 year old girl as her student, when the formal act of dependence on a preceptor hasn’t been carried out yet, 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 20 year old girl as her student, when the formal act of dependence on a preceptor hasn’t been carried out yet, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she takes one on, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 117.)