Confession 152

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Rājagaha. At that time, the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta, who weren’t sick, didn’t go to receive instruction.

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, who aren’t sick, don’t go to receive instruction?” 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, who aren’t sick, don’t go to receive instruction?” 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, who isn’t sick, doesn’t go to the sangha to receive instruction, 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, who isn’t sick, doesn’t go to receive instruction, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she, who isn’t sick, doesn’t go to receive instruction, she incurs a pācittiya. If she’s sick, there’s no offense. (End of rule 152.)

Sarvāstivāda Bhikkhunī Vinaya, fascicle 46.