Confession 150

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Rājagaha. At that time, the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta, when the rains retreat had ended, didn’t invite both sanghas with regards to the three things: to speak about seen, heard, or suspected offenses.

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 them with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called bhikkhunīs when you, when the rains retreat has ended, don’t invite both sanghas with regards to the three things: to speak about seen, heard, or suspected offenses?” Having criticized them 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 the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta: “Did you really do this?” They answered: “We really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha criticized them with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called bhikkhunīs when you, when the rains retreat has ended, don’t invite both sanghas with regards to the three things: to speak about seen, heard, or suspected offenses?” Having criticized them 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 rains retreat has ended, doesn’t invite both sanghas with regards to the three things: to speak about seen, heard, or suspected (offenses), 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 rains retreat has ended, doesn’t invite both sanghas with regards to the three things: to speak about seen, heard, or suspected offenses, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she doesn’t invite to speak about the three things, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 150.)