Confession 135

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī had little hope of obtaining cloth, but she still accepted the kaṭhina robe. At a later time, when they struck the bell to relinquish the kaṭhina robe, Thullanandā bhikkhunī didn’t want to come. They sent a bhikkhunī to summon her: “The sangha wants to relinquish the kaṭhina robe. You should come!” She answered: “I won’t go.” (The messenger bhikkhunī) asked: “Why won’t you go?” Thullanandā said: “I haven’t obtained the cloth I hoped for 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 have little hope of obtaining cloth, but still accept the kaṭhina robe?” 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 have little hope of obtaining cloth, but still accept the kaṭhina robe?” 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 has little hope of obtaining cloth, but still accepts the kaṭhina robe, 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 has little hope of obtaining cloth, but still accepts the kaṭhina robe, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she has little hope of obtaining cloth, and whenever she accepts, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 135.)