Bi Pc 55. Intimate washing

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on garlic 5. Intimate washing

Origin story

At one time when the Buddha was staying in the Sakyan country in the Banyan Tree Monastery at Kapilavatthu, Mahāpajāpati Gotamī went to him and bowed. Standing downwind from him, she said, “Sir, women smell.” “Well then, the nuns should clean themselves with water.” And the Buddha instructed, inspired, and gladdened her with a teaching, after which she bowed down, circumambulated him with her right side toward him, and left. Soon afterwards the Buddha gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“Monks, I allow the nuns to clean themselves with water.”

Being aware that the Buddha had allowed cleaning with water, a nun did it too deeply, causing a sore in her vagina.

She told the nuns what had happened. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, “How could a nun clean herself too deeply with water?” … “Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked her, “How could a nun clean herself too deeply with water? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

‘If a nun is cleaning herself with water, she may insert two finger joints at the most. If she goes further than that, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

Is cleaning herself with water: rinsing the vagina is what is meant. Cleaning: rinses. She may insert two finger joints at the most: she may insert two joints of two fingers at the most. If she goes further than that: if she consents to the contact and goes further even by a hair’s breadth, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations

If it is more than two finger joints, and she perceives it as more, and she inserts them, she commits an offense entailing confession. If it is more than two finger joints, but she is unsure of it, and she inserts them, she commits an offense entailing confession. If it is more than two finger joints, but she perceives it as less, and she inserts them, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If it is less than two finger joints, but she perceives it as more, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is less than two finger joints, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is less than two finger joints, and she perceives it as less, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if she inserts two finger joints; if she inserts less than two finger joints; if she does it because she is sick; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.

The fifth training rule is finished.