Sarvāstivāda Vinaya
Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga
Confession 137
Origin Story
The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, the bhikkhunī sangha struck the bell wanting to distribute cloth in harmony. Upavānā(?) bhikkhunī acted as the sangha official for settling matters, and she didn’t go to the sangha. They sent a messenger to summon her: “The sangha is in harmony and wants to distribute cloth. You should come!” She answered: “I won’t go. You should return. This matter is against the dhamma, it’s incorrect and wrong, and they follow greed, hatred, fear, and delusion. I’m this sangha’s official for settling matters. Why do they distribute cloth without me? Therefore I won’t go.” For this reason the sangha was unable to distribute cloth.
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 don’t go along with the sangha distributing cloth?” 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 Upavānā 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 don’t go along with the sangha distributing cloth?” 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 the sangha is distributing cloth, doesn’t go along with 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 the sangha is distributing cloth, doesn’t go along with it, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she doesn’t go along, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 137.)