Bi Pc 9696. Not wearing a chest wrap
Pāli / Sanskrit:Saṁkakṣikā
A nun who enters an inhabited area without a bust cover must confess the offense.
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Commentary on the Bhikkhunī Pācittiya 96: Not Wearing a Chest Wrap
Background
This rule is recorded in the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha (the Bhikkhunī Code of Discipline), in the Pācittiya (Confession) section of the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition. In the time of the Buddha, the community of bhikkhunīs was established with careful rules of practice aimed at protecting the reputation of the monastic community and supporting diligence on the Path.
A village (gāma) in the context of the Vinaya refers to areas of settled habitation, where the conduct of bhikkhunīs is readily observed by the general public. The chest wrap (saṁkakṣikā) is not a luxury garment but a basic article of covering, expressing respect for the standards of proper conduct expected of bhikkhunīs in ancient Eastern society.
This rule did not arise from a particular exceptional case or misconduct, but from the need to uphold the standing and dignity of bhikkhunīs in the eyes of the people. It is an expression of the principle of "not giving occasion for criticism by beings" (aparisaṃvāda).
Main Content
According to Pācittiya 96, a bhikkhunī who enters a village area without wearing a chest wrap must publicly confess (pācittiya) before the Sangha or before other bhikkhunīs. This confession is not a form of destruction, but a mechanism for purifying the infraction against the rules of conduct.
The act of "entering a village" (gāmaṃ pavisituṃ) means going into an area of habitation. The absence of a chest wrap in this context is regarded as a lapse in maintaining outward propriety (ābharaṇa-sīla), since people will see the bhikkhunī and may give rise to doubt or lose their respect. This affects not only the individual but also the reputation of the entire monastic community.
The distinction between a Pācittiya and more serious offenses (such as Pārājika or Saṅghādisesa) lies in the degree of transgression. A Pācittiya requires only confession and correction of the action, and does not lead to expulsion from the Sangha.
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