Confession 154

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, the Buddha didn’t lay down a shared precept in front of the bhikkhunī sangha. Having laid down a shared precept in front of the bhikkhu sangha, he told the bhikkhus: “You should explain it to the bhikkhunī sangha.” The Buddha then entered his room and sat in meditation. The bhikkhus said to each other: “The Buddha has laid down a shared precept and instructed us to explain it to the bhikkhunī sangha. Who can explain it to the bhikkhunī sangha?” They also thought: “The venerable Bhaddiya bhikkhu has merit, authority, and his good reputation is spreading around. This venerable Bhaddiya bhikkhu can go to the monastery in the king’s park and explain the shared precept to the bhikkhunī sangha.” The bhikkhus then went to this bhikkhu and told him: “The Buddha has laid down a shared precept for us and told us: ‘Explain it to the bhikkhunī sangha.’ Then he entered his room and sat in meditation. We thought: ‘Who can explain the shared precept to the bhikkhunī sangha?’ We also thought: ‘The venerable Bhaddiya bhikkhu has merit, authority, and his good reputation is spreading around. He must be able to explain it.’ Can you go to the monastery in the king’s park and explain the shared precept to the bhikkhunī sangha?”

The venerable Bhaddiya accepted in silence. The bhikkhus then paid respect with their heads at Bhaddiya’s feet, circumambulated him on the right side, and left. When the night had passed, Bhaddiya bhikkhu put on his robe, took his bowl, and entered Sāvatthī with more junior bhikkhus on almsround. After the meal, he went to the bhikkhunī monastery in the king’s park. The bhikkhunīs saw from a distance that the venerable Bhaddiya bhikkhu was coming. Then they got up and set out couches and seats. Some also prepared water, and some prepared grass. When Bhaddiya had arrived, had washed his feet, and had sat down on a seat, he had the bhikkhunī sangha assembled. When they were assembled, he said: “Good women, the Buddha has laid down a shared precept. We and you should keep it together.” Among the bhikkhunīs were senior and virtuous bhikkhunīs who all said: “Very good.” But Thullanandā bhikkhunī grunted, and didn’t accept it.

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 grunt at a bhikkhu?” 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 that 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 grunt at a bhikkhu?” 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 grunts at a bhikkhu, 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 grunts at a bhikkhu, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she grunts at a bhikkhu, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 154.)