Expulsion 6

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Rājagaha. At that time, the bhikkhunīs supporting Devadatta allowed the group-of-six bhikkhus to hold their hands, to hold their robes, and they stood together, talked together, made appointments, entered secluded places, waited for the men to come, and moved their bodies like lay women.

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, with a defiled mind, allow a man with a defiled mind to hold your hand, hold your robes, stand together, talk together, make an appointment, enter a secluded place, wait for the man to come, and move your body like lay women?” 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, with a defiled mind, allow a man with a defiled mind to hold your hand, hold your robes, stand together, talk together, make an appointment, enter a secluded place, wait for the man to come, and move your body like lay women?” 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 with a defiled mind allows a man with a defiled mind to hold her hand, hold her robes, stands together, talks together, makes an appointment, enters a secluded place, waits for the man to come, and moves her body, like a lay woman, if by these eight things, she shows the signs of craving and attachment, that bhikkhunī commits a pārājika, and shouldn’t live in community.’”

Explanations

“A defiled mind” means, when she’s close to that person, a strong fetter of desire arises. Likewise for “a man with a defiled mind”.

“A man” means a human man who can engage in sexual intercourse.

“Holding her hand” means what is in front of the wrists is called “the hand”.

“Holding her robes” means holding the robes on her body.

“Standing together” means in a place where they can speak impure words.

“Talking together” means in a place where they can speak impure words.

“Making an appointment” means in a place where they can do bad things.

“Entering a secluded place” means a place hidden by a wall, hidden by a straw-mat screen, or hidden by a cloth curtain.

“Waiting for the man to come” means in a place where they can to bad things.

“Moving her body like a lay woman” means holding or embracing, not opposing the man’s will, like a lay woman.

If she, through these eight things, shows the signs of craving and attachment, she commits a pārājika.

“A pārājika” means this offense is low, evil, deep, grave, and an unequalled fall. If a bhikkhunī commits this offense, she’s not called a renunciate, not a Sakyan daughter, and has lost her status as a bhikkhunī.

“Not living in community” means that the bhikkhunīs don’t engage in matters of dhamma with her, that’s to say formal acts with a motion, formal acts with a motion as second, formal acts with a motion as fourth, the recitation of the precepts, the invitation ceremony, or performing the 13 formal acts for bhikkhunīs.

Herein, this is an offense: If a bhikkhunī with a defiled mind allows a man with a defiled mind to hold her hand, it’s a thullaccaya. If she allows him to hold her robes, it’s a thullaccaya. If they stand together, it’s a thullaccaya. If they talk together, it’s a thullaccaya. If they make an appointment, it’s a thullaccaya. If she enters a secluded place, it’s a thullaccaya. If she waits for the man to come, it’s a thullaccaya. If she gives her body to the man like a lay woman, it’s a thullaccaya. If she fully does these eight things, she commits a pārājika. (End of rule 6.)