Confession 162

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī developed an abscess between the anus and the vagina. Then she called a lay person to untie (the bandage), look, and bandage it again.

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, when having an abscess in the hidden place, have a lay person untie (the bandage), look, and bandage it again?” 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, when having an abscess in the hidden place, have a lay person untie (the bandage), look, and bandage it again?” 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 has an abscess, and has a lay person The pātimokkha says: A man.* untie (the bandage), and bandage it, it’s a pācittiya.’”

An “abscess” means there are three kinds: 1) An abscess, a boil, etc. that developed on its own. 2) An injury caused by an item. 3) A hard lump caused by wind. There are three kinds of lumps: a cold lump, a hot lump, and an air(-filled) lump. If a bhikkhunī can bandage it herself, but can’t untie (the bandage), she should bandage it herself and have others untie (the bandage). If she can untie (the bandage) herself but can’t bandage it, she should untie (the bandage) herself and have others bandage it.

Herein, this is an offense: If a bhikkhunī has a lay person bandage it, but not untie (the bandage), it’s a pācittiya. If she has them untie (the bandage), but not bandage it, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she has them bandage and untie (the bandage), she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 162.)