Confession 138

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, the bhikkhunī sangha struck the bell wanting to settle matters in harmony. Upavānā(?) bhikkhunī didn’t go, and they sent a messenger to summon her: “The sangha is in harmony and wants to settle matters. You should come!” She answered: “You should return. I think this matter is against the dhamma, it’s incorrect, and they follow greed, hatred, fear, and delusion. Therefore I won’t go.” For this reason the sangha was unable to settle matters.

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 settling matters?” 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 settling matters?” 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 settling matters, 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 settling matters, doesn’t go along with it, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she doesn’t go along, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 138.)