Confession 143

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, there was a holiday in Sāvatthī. The householders prepared all kinds of good food and drinks, and left the city to go to a park, but the newly-wed wives stayed at home. Thullanandā bhikkhunī was acquainted with one house, and she got up early, put on her robes, took her bowl, and entered that house. The newly-wed wives were afraid that their husband would come, or their husband’s parents would come, so they laid out a seat outside the middle gate, greeted her and sat down. The newly-wed wives paid respect with their heads at the bhikkhunī’s feet and sat down in front of her. The bhikkhunī then closed her eyes for a long time to recite the dhamma and the suttas and to chant. Because a newly-wed wife was afraid that her husband would come and see them, or that his parents would come, she got up and left. The second and the third newly-wed wives also did likewise. When the bhikkhunī opened her eyes and saw that nobody was in front of her, embarrassment arose in her mind. She abandoned the seat and left.

That house was close to a large road. Shady people entered the gate and saw her sitting bench. They looked around and when there was nobody, they stole it and left. When the newly-wed wives didn’t hear the bhikkhunī, they said to each other: “Let’s go and see if she’s there.” Someone said: “She’s not there.” “Is the bench there?” One answered: “It’s not there.” They thought: “The bhikkhunī must have taken it to the monastery.” They sent a messenger to say: “Return our bench.” Because the bhikkhunī was ashamed and angry, she didn’t go to that house again. Later, that householder saw people selling the bench in the market, and he took it back. They sent a messenger to the bhikkhunī: “We’ve obtained our previous bench. Please return.”

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 sit on a lay person’s bench, and leave without informing the owner?” 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 sit on a lay person’s bench, and leave without informing the owner?” 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 sits on a lay person’s bench, and leaves without returning it to the owner, 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 sits on a lay person’s bench, and leaves without returning it to the owner, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she leaves without returning it, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 143.)