Confession 126

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī ordained students every year. She said to the students: “Whatever places I enter, you all enter behind me. If I receive anything, you’ll also receive it.” One time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī put on her robes, took her bowl, and went on almsround. She entered a house, received a full bowl, and left. The next student entered, also received a full bowl, and left. The second and third students also entered in order. The householders couldn’t give again. Then they closed the gate and said: “Who can give food to those unauspicious bhikkhunīs?”

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 her: “Did you really do this?” She answered: “I really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha criticized Thullanandā bhikkhunī with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called a bhikkhunī when you ordain students every year?” 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 ordains students every year, 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 ordains students every year, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she ordains every year, she incurs a pācittiya.

There’s no offense: If she ordains one or two every other year, the offense isn’t committed. (End of rule 126.)