Confession 132

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Rājagaha. At that time, the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta often went in and out of lay houses. The female householders said: “Give us a small piece of your robes to protect our babies.” The bhikkhunīs then took off their robes and gave them. Later, virtuous bhikkhunīs also came to these houses. The female householders said: “Give us a small piece of your robes to protect our babies.” The virtuous bhikkhunīs said: “Your words are inverted. Lay people should give robes to renunciates, but you ask from us instead. We receive gifts of faith from others, how could we destroy their offerings?” The female householders said: “You’re stingy. Earlier, bhikkhunīs came, we asked them for a small piece, and they took off their robes and gave them to us.”

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 them with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called bhikkhunīs when you give robes to lay people?” Having criticized them 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 the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta: “Did you really do this?” They answered: “We really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha criticized them with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called bhikkhunīs when you give robes to lay people?” Having criticized them 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 gives a robe to a lay person, 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 gives a robe to a lay person, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she gives one, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 132.)