Confession 169

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Rājagaha. At that time, the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta had others brush their hair. The householders criticized them: “Good women, you’ve gone forth. What’s the purpose of brushing your hair?”

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 have others brush your hair?” Having criticized them with all kinds of reasons, and 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 have others brush your hair?” 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 has others brush her hair, 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 has others brush her hair, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she has others brush her hair, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 169.)