Confession 133

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī’s menses had ended and she had washed the menstrual robe cleanly, but she didn’t want to let go of it, and it inconvenienced other bhikkhunīs who had their menses. When they didn’t obtain any in the usual place, the bhikkhunīs suffered.

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, after your menses has ended and you’ve washed the menstrual robe cleanly, don’t want to let go of it?” 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, after your menses has ended and you’ve washed the cloth, don’t want to let go of it?” 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, when her menses has ended and she has washed the cloth cleanly, doesn’t let go of 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, when her menses has ended and she has washed the cloth cleanly, doesn’t let go of it, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she doesn’t let go of it, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 133.)