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 the nun Caṇḍakāḷī was quarrelsome and argumentative, and she created legal issues in the Sangha. Tena kho pana samayena caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī bhaṇḍanakārikā hoti kalahakārikā vivādakārikā bhassakārikā saṅghe adhikaraṇakārikā. But when a legal procedure was being done against her, the nun Thullanandā objected. Thullanandā bhikkhunī tassā kamme karīyamāne paṭikkosati.

Soon afterwards when Thullanandā went to a village on some business, Tena kho pana samayena thullanandā bhikkhunī gāmakaṁ agamāsi kenacideva karaṇīyena. the Sangha of nuns Atha kho bhikkhunisaṅgho—took the opportunity to eject Caṇḍakāḷī for not recognizing an offense. “thullanandā bhikkhunī pakkantā”ti caṇḍakāḷiṁ bhikkhuniṁ āpattiyā adassane ukkhipi. When Thullanandā had finished her business, she returned to Sāvatthī. Thullanandā bhikkhunī gāmake taṁ karaṇīyaṁ tīretvā punadeva sāvatthiṁ paccāgacchi. As she was approaching, Caṇḍakāḷī neither prepared a seat for her, nor set out a foot stool, a foot scraper, or water for washing the feet; Caṇḍakāḷī bhikkhunī thullanandāya bhikkhuniyā āgacchantiyā neva āsanaṁ paññapesi na pādodakaṁ pādapīṭhaṁ pādakaṭhalikaṁ upanikkhipi; and she did not go out to meet her to receive her bowl and robe or to ask whether she wanted water to drink. na paccuggantvā pattacīvaraṁ paṭiggahesi na pānīyena āpucchi. Thullanandā asked her Thullanandā bhikkhunī caṇḍakāḷiṁ bhikkhuniṁ etadavoca—why she was acting like this. “kissa tvaṁ, ayye, mayi āgacchantiyā neva āsanaṁ paññapesi na pādodakaṁ pādapīṭhaṁ pādakaṭhalikaṁ upanikkhipi; na paccuggantvā pattacīvaraṁ paṭiggahesi na pānīyena āpucchī”ti? She replied, “That’s how it is, Venerable, when one doesn’t have a protector.” “Evañhetaṁ, ayye, hoti yathā taṁ anāthāyā”ti.

“But how is it, Venerable, that you don’t have a protector?” “Kissa pana tvaṁ, ayye, anāthā”ti?

“When these nuns knew “Imā maṁ, ayye, bhikkhuniyo—that no one would speak up for me because I am not esteemed by them and I didn’t have a protector, they ejected me for not recognizing an offense.” ‘ayaṁ anāthā appaññātā, natthi imissā kāci pativattā’ti, āpattiyā adassane ukkhipiṁsū”ti.

Thullanandā bhikkhunī—“They are incompetent fools! They don’t understand legal procedures, nor what makes them fail or succeed.” And being furious, she reviled the community. “bālā etā abyattā etā netā jānanti kammaṁ vā kammadosaṁ vā kammavipattiṁ vā kammasampattiṁ vā”ti, caṇḍīkatā gaṇaṁ paribhāsi.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How could Venerable Thullanandā revile the community because she is furious?” … “kathañhi nāma ayyā thullanandā caṇḍīkatā gaṇaṁ paribhāsissatī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā did this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, thullanandā bhikkhunī caṇḍīkatā gaṇaṁ paribhāsatī”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 caṇḍīkatā gaṇaṁ paribhāsissati. 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—