Confession 164

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Rājagaha. At that time, the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta rubbed good perfume on their bodies, and also rubbed mud perfume, ground sesame, and sesame dregs on their bodies.

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 rub perfume on your bodies, and rub mud perfume, ground sesame, and sesame dregs on your bodies?” 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 rub mud perfume, ground sesame, and sesame dregs on your bodies?” 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 rubs mud perfume, ground sesame, and sesame dregs on her body, 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 rubs perfume on her body, it’s a pācittiya. If she rubs mud perfume, ground sesame, or sesame dregs on her body, all are pācittiyas. Whenever she uses them and rubs them on her body, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 164.)