Confession 139

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī, without informing others at the residence, went wandering among the villages. Later, a fire broke out and burnt the monastery. The bhikkhunīs each brought their robes and bowls outside, and said to each other: “Let’s bring Thullanandā bhikkhunī’s robes and bowl outside.” Some bhikkhunīs said: “Thullanandā has a bad character and likes to be angry. She’ll say of what is lost that it wasn’t lost, and of what is burnt that it didn’t burn.” They all didn’t bring her things outside, and the fire burnt everything.

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, without informing others at the residence, go wandering among the villages?” 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, without informing others at the residence, go wandering among the villages?” 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, without informing others at the residence, walks among the villages, 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, without informing others at the residence, walks among the villages, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she doesn’t inform others, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 139.)