Confession 130

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī had a studend called Gifts-Exceeding-Grains-of-Sand who was virtuous and willing to keep the precepts, but was forgetful. Gifts-Exceeding-Grains-of-Sand unsewed her old robe but she neither sewed it back together herself, nor had others sew it, and (the pieces of) her unsewed robe were scattered in various places.

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: “How can you be called a bhikkhunī when you unsew your old robe, and then neither sew it back together yourself, nor have others sew it, so that it’s scattered in various places?” 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 Gifts-Exceeding-Grains-of-Sand 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 unsew your old robe, and then neither sew it back together yourself, nor have others sew it, so that it’s scattered in various places?” Having criticized her with all kinds of reasons, he said to the bhikkhus: “From now on, I allow the bhikkhunīs to make a robe within five days at most, and it should be determined again. For 10 benefits, I’ll lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs. From now on, this precept should be recited thus:

Final Ruling

‘If bhikkhunī makes a robe, it should be done within five days at most. If she takes longer to complete it, 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 longer than five days to make a robe, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she takes longer, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 130.)