Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At that time, after completing the rainy-season residence in a village monastery, a number of nuns were traveling to Sāvatthī. They were perfect in conduct and deportment, but poorly dressed in shabby robes. Tena kho pana samayena sambahulā bhikkhuniyo gāmakāvāse vassaṁvuṭṭhā sāvatthiṁ agamaṁsu vattasampannā iriyāpathasampannā duccoḷā lūkhacīvarā. Some lay followers who saw them thought, Upāsakā tā bhikkhuniyo passitvā—“These nuns are perfect in conduct and deportment, but poorly dressed in shabby robes; they must’ve been robbed,” and they gave out-of-season robe-cloth to the Sangha of nuns. “imā bhikkhuniyo vattasampannā iriyāpathasampannā duccoḷā lūkhacīvarā, imā bhikkhuniyo acchinnā bhavissantī”ti bhikkhunisaṅghassa akālacīvaraṁ adaṁsu. Because they had performed the robe-making ceremony, the nun Thullanandā Thullanandā bhikkhunī—determined it as in-season robe-cloth, and then distributed it. “amhākaṁ kathinaṁ atthataṁ kālacīvaran”ti adhiṭṭhahitvā bhājāpesi. The lay followers asked those nuns whether Upāsakā tā bhikkhuniyo passitvā etadavocuṁ—they had obtained any robe-cloth. “apayyāhi cīvaraṁ laddhan”ti? They replied that they hadn’t “Na mayaṁ, āvuso, cīvaraṁ labhāma. and told them what had happened. Ayyā thullanandā—‘amhākaṁ kathinaṁ atthataṁ kālacīvaran’ti adhiṭṭhahitvā bhājāpesī”ti. Those lay followers then complained and criticized her, Upāsakā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā determine out-of-season robe-cloth as ‘in-season’, and then distribute it?” “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā akālacīvaraṁ ‘kālacīvaran’ti adhiṭṭhahitvā bhājāpessatī”ti.

The nuns heard the complaints of those lay followers, Assosuṁ kho bhikkhuniyo tesaṁ upāsakānaṁ 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 do this?” “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā akālacīvaraṁ ‘kālacīvaran’ti adhiṭṭhahitvā bhājāpessatī”ti. Those nuns then told the monks, Atha kho tā bhikkhuniyo bhikkhūnaṁ etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ. who in turn told the Buddha. Soon afterwards he had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: Bhikkhū bhagavato etamatthaṁ ārocesuṁ …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī akālacīvaraṁ ‘kālacīvaran’ti adhiṭṭhahitvā bhājāpetī”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 akālacīvaraṁ “kālacīvaran”ti adhiṭṭhahitvā bhājāpessati. 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—