Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. a family that was supporting the nun Thullanandā said to her, Tena kho pana samayena thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā upaṭṭhākakulaṁ thullanandaṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca—“Venerable, we’re going to give robe-cloth to the Sangha of nuns.” “bhikkhunisaṅghassa, ayye, cīvaraṁ dassāmā”ti.

She replied, Thullanandā bhikkhunī—“You’re very busy,” and she created an obstacle for them. “tumhe bahukiccā bahukaraṇīyā”ti antarāyaṁ akāsi.

Soon afterwards the house of that family burned down. Tena kho pana samayena tassa kulassa gharaṁ ḍayhati. They then complained and criticized her, Te ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā create an obstacle for our gift? “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā amhākaṁ deyyadhammaṁ antarāyaṁ karissati. Now we have neither possessions nor merit.” Ubhayenāmha paribāhirā bhogehi ca puññena cā”ti.

The nuns heard the complaints of those people, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ manussānaṁ ujjhāyantānaṁ khiyyantānaṁ vipācentānaṁ. and the nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā create an obstacle for the community to get robe-cloth?” … “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā gaṇassa cīvaralābhaṁ antarāyaṁ karissatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī gaṇassa cīvaralābhaṁ antarāyaṁ akāsī”ti?

“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.

The Buddha rebuked her … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could the nun Thullanandā do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī gaṇassa cīvaralābhaṁ antarāyaṁ karissati. This will affect people’s confidence …” … Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—