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The Section on Things to be Confessed (The Bhikkhunīs' Analysis) 1. The First Rule on Things to be Confessed Now, venerable ladies, these Eight things to be confessed Come up for recitation. 1228. At that time, the Buddha, the Blessed One, was staying in Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time, the group-of-six bhikkhunīs, having requested ghee, ate it. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can bhikkhunīs, having requested ghee, eat it! Who doesn't like what is rich? Who doesn't enjoy what is delicious?" The bhikkhunīs heard those people complaining, grumbling, and criticizing. Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes... complained, grumbled, and criticized: "How can the group-of-six bhikkhunīs, having requested ghee, eat it!"... "Is it true, bhikkhus, that the group-of-six bhikkhunīs, having requested ghee, eat it?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them... "How can the group-of-six bhikkhunīs, having requested ghee, eat it! This, bhikkhus, is not for the conversion of the unconverted... And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this rule: "Whatever bhikkhunī, having requested ghee, eats it, That bhikkhunī is to confess it, saying: 'Venerable one, I have fallen into a blameworthy, Unsuitable, confessional matter; I confess it.'" Thus was this rule laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhunīs. 1229. Now at that time, bhikkhunīs were ill. Bhikkhunīs who inquired about the sick said to the sick bhikkhunīs: "Venerable ones, are you able to endure? Are you able to get by?" "Formerly, venerable ones, we used to request ghee and eat it, and that was comfortable for us; but now, being scrupulous that 'it has been forbidden by the Blessed One,' we do not request it, and that is not comfortable for us."... They reported this matter to the Blessed One. …I allow, monks, a sick nun to request ghee and eat it. And thus, monks, let the nuns recite this training rule – 1230. Whatever nun, not sick, should request ghee and eat it, that nun must confess: ‘I have fallen into a blameworthy, unsuitable, and confessable state, venerable one; I confess it.’ 1231. Whatever means: whatever kind… nun means… this nun is intended in this sense. Not sick means: for whom it is comfortable without ghee. Sick means: for whom it is not comfortable without ghee. Ghee means: cow ghee, or goat ghee, or buffalo ghee. The ghee of those whose flesh is allowable. If not sick, she requests for her own sake, in the act, an offense of wrong-doing. By obtaining it, she receives it thinking ‘I will eat,’ an offense of wrong-doing. With each mouthful, an offense of confession. 1232. Not sick, perceiving herself not sick, she requests ghee and eats it, an offense of confession. Not sick, doubtful, she requests ghee and eats it, an offense of confession. Not sick, perceiving herself sick, she requests ghee and eats it, an offense of confession. Sick, perceiving herself not sick, an offense of wrong-doing. Sick, doubtful, an offense of wrong-doing. Sick, perceiving herself sick, no offense. 1233. No offense for a sick nun. If, having been sick, she requests and then, not sick, eats. If she eats the remainder for a sick nun. For relatives who have invited. For the sake of another. With her own money. For one who is insane. For the first offender. The first rule of confession is finished. 2. The second and subsequent rules of confession 1234. At that time, the Buddha, the Blessed One, was staying at Savatthi, in Jeta's Grove, Anathapindika's monastery. At that time, the group of six nuns requested oil and ate it… requested honey and ate it… requested treacle and ate it… requested fish and ate it… meat, having requested it, they eat… …milk, having requested it, they eat… …curd, having requested it, they eat. People complain, grumble, and criticize: “How can these bhikkhunīs, having requested curd, eat it! Whose excellent food is not pleasing, whose delicious food is not agreeable!” The bhikkhunīs heard those people complaining, grumbling, and criticizing. Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes… …they complained, grumbled, and criticized: “How can the group-of-six bhikkhunīs, having requested curd, eat it!” …Is it true, bhikkhus, that the group-of-six bhikkhunīs, having requested curd, eat it? “It is true, Blessed One.” The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them… …How can these group-of-six bhikkhunīs, having requested curd, eat it! This, bhikkhus, is not for the conversion of the unconverted… …And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this rule of training: “Should any bhikkhunī, having requested curd, eat it, that bhikkhunī is to confess it: ‘I have fallen into a blameworthy state, venerable one, unsuitable, to be confessed; that I confess.’” Thus, this rule of training was laid down by the Blessed One for the bhikkhunīs. 1235. Now at that time, bhikkhunīs were sick. Bhikkhunīs who were asking about the sick said to the sick bhikkhunīs: “Are you, venerable ones, well? Are you getting by?” “Previously, venerable ones, we requested curd and ate it, and it was comfortable for us. But now, because it is ‘forbidden by the Blessed One,’ we are scrupulous and do not request it, and it is not comfortable for us.” …They reported this matter to the Blessed One… …I allow, bhikkhus, a sick bhikkhunī to request curd and eat it. And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this rule of training: 1236. “Should any bhikkhunī, not sick, (oil… …honey… …molasses… ...meat...milk...curd... having requested, should eat, that bhikkhunī must confess: 'Venerable, I have fallen into a blameworthy, unsuitable, confessable offense; that I confess.'" 1237. "Yā pana" means whichever, of whatever kind... "Bhikkhunī" means bhikkhunī... this bhikkhunī is intended in this context. "Not sick" means for whom it is comfortable without curd. "Sick" means for whom it is not comfortable without curd. "Oil" means sesame oil, mustard oil, madhuka oil, castor oil, animal fat oil. "Honey" means bee honey. "Molasses" means that produced from sugarcane. "Fish" is called that which is aquatic. "Meat" means the meat of those whose meat is permissible. "Milk" means cow's milk, or goat's milk, or buffalo's milk, the milk of those whose meat is permissible. "Curd" means the curd of those very same. A not-sick bhikkhunī requests for her own sake, an offense of wrong-doing in the attempt. "I will eat it upon receipt," she accepts, an offense of wrong-doing. With each mouthful, an offense of confession. 1238. A not-sick bhikkhunī, perceiving herself as not-sick, having requested curd, eats it, an offense of confession. A not-sick bhikkhunī, being in doubt, having requested curd, eats it, an offense of confession. A not-sick bhikkhunī, perceiving herself as sick, having requested curd, eats it, an offense of confession. A sick bhikkhunī, perceiving herself as not-sick, an offense of wrong-doing. A sick bhikkhunī, being in doubt, an offense of wrong-doing. A sick bhikkhunī, perceiving herself as sick, no offense. 1239. No offense for a sick bhikkhunī. Having been sick, having requested, then not-sick, she eats. She eats the remainder for a sick bhikkhunī. For relatives who have invited. For the sake of another. With her own money. For one who is insane. For the first offender. The eighth Confession Rule is concluded. Indeed, Venerable Ladies, the eight Confession Rules have been recited. Concerning them, Venerable Ladies, I ask: "Are you pure in this?" A second time I ask: "Are you pure in this?" A third time I ask: "Are you pure in this?" Venerable Ladies, you are pure in this, therefore... Do not be silent, thus I remember this. In the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the section on Pāṭidesanīya rules is finished.