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. artwork had been installed in the pleasure house in King Pasenadi of Kosala’s park. Tena kho pana samayena rañño pasenadissa kosalassa uyyāne cittāgāre paṭibhānacittaṁ kataṁ hoti. Many people visited the pleasure house, Bahū manussā cittāgāraṁ dassanāya gacchanti. as did the nuns from the group of six. Chabbaggiyāpi bhikkhuniyo cittāgāraṁ dassanāya agamaṁsu. People complained and criticized them, Manussā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns visit a pleasure house? They’re just like householders who indulge in worldly pleasures!” “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo cittāgāraṁ dassanāya gacchissanti, seyyathāpi gihiniyo kāmabhoginiyo”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 them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could the nuns from the group of six do this?” … “kathañhi nāma chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo cittāgāraṁ dassanāya gacchissantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that those nuns did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo cittāgāraṁ dassanāya gacchantī”ti?

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

The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How could the nuns from the group of six do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, chabbaggiyā bhikkhuniyo cittāgāraṁ dassanāya gacchissanti. 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—