Bi Pc 134134. Playing in water
Pāli / Sanskrit:Hasadhamma
A nun who plays in water must confess the offense.
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Commentary on the Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 134: Playing in Water
Background
This rule appears in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, the code of discipline governing the community of nuns. In the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is regarded as the foundation of the Buddha's teaching—the concrete expression of the Saddhamma that the Blessed One transmitted. This code was compiled during the Saṃgīti (Councils) held after the Buddha's passing into Nirvāṇa, in order to protect the Dharma from decline.
Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 134 belongs to the category of "Pācittiya" offenses (literally, those requiring confession). The rules within this category are not the most serious violations; nonetheless, they must be observed in order to maintain diligence and mental clarity within the Saṅgha. The circumstances from which this rule arose were specific situations in which nuns engaged in behavior that affected the image and the respect accorded to the Saṅgha in ancient Indian society.
Principal Content
The rule on "Playing in Water" (Hasadhamma, referring to playful or frolicking actions in water) stipulates that a bhikkhunī must not play, splash about, or engage in lighthearted, giggling behavior in water. Should a nun transgress this rule, she must confess the offense before the Saṅgha or before a bhikkhunī who has been authorized to receive such confessions (Ñatticariyā).
The reasoning behind this rule is not an outright prohibition of bathing or bodily hygiene—activities that are necessary for one's health. Rather, it aims to prevent playful, recreational conduct or undignified attitudes that could diminish the respect of the lay community or disturb the mental composure of the practitioner herself.
In the context of ancient society, the sight of monastics—and nuns in particular—playing freely and without restraint in water could give rise to doubt regarding the sincerity of their inner striving, or cause them to be regarded as lacking genuine commitment to the Buddhist path.
Practical Significance
Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 134 does not teach an absolute prohibition against water or personal hygiene.
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