Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time Venerable Udāyī’s former wife had become a nun. She frequently visited Udāyī, and he frequently visited her. And Udāyī shared his meals with that nun.

One morning Udāyī robed up, took his bowl and robe, and went to her. He then uncovered his genitals in front of her and sat down on a seat. She too uncovered her genitals in front of him and sat down on a seat. Udāyī lustfully stared at her genitals, and he emitted semen. He then said to that nun:

“Sister, get some water; I’ll wash the robe.”

“Give it to me, Venerable, I’ll wash it.”

She then took some of the semen in her mouth and inserted some into her genitals. Because of that she became pregnant. The nuns said, “This nun is not abstaining from sexuality; she’s pregnant.”

She said, “Venerables, I do abstain from sexuality,” and she told them what had happened.

The nuns complained and criticized Udāyī, “How can Venerable Udāyī get a nun to wash a used robe?” They then told the monks. The monks of few desires … complained and criticized him, “How can Venerable Udāyī get a nun to wash a used robe?”

After criticizing him in many ways, they told the Master. … “Is it true, Udāyī, that you did this?”

“It’s true, Master.”

“Is she a relative of yours?”

“No, Master.”

“Foolish man, a man and a woman who are not related don’t know what’s appropriate and what’s inappropriate in dealing with each other, what’s inspiring behavior and what’s not. And still you got an unrelated nun to wash a used robe. This will not give rise to confidence in those without it … And, monks, this training rule should be recited thus:

Final ruling

‘If a monk gets an unrelated nun to wash, dye, or beat a used robe, he commits and offense entailing relinquishment and confession.’”

Definitions

A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who has been given the full ordination by a complete Order through a procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is unchallengeable and fit to stand— this sort of monk is meant in this case.

Unrelated: anyone who is not a descendant of one’s male ancestors going back seven generations, either on the mother’s side or on the father’s side.

A nun: she has been given the full ordination by both Orders.

A used robe: a lower robe or an upper robe, even worn once.

If he tells her to wash it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. When it has been washed, it becomes subject to relinquishment. If he tells her to dye it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. When it has been died, it becomes subject to relinquishment. If he tells her to beat it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. When she has struck it once with her hand or with an implement, it becomes subject to relinquishment.

The robe should be relinquished to an Order, a group, or an individual. “And, monks, it should be relinquished in this way. … To be expanded as in Relinquishment 1, paragraphs 13–17, with appropriate substitutions. … ‘Venerables, this used robe which I got an unrelated nun to wash is to be relinquished. I relinquish it to the Order.’ … the Order should give … you should give … ‘I give this robe back to you.’”

Permutations

If she is unrelated and he perceives her as unrelated, and he gets her to wash a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as unrelated, and he gets her to wash and dye a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as unrelated, and he gets her to wash and beat a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as unrelated, and he gets her to wash, dye, and beat a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and two offenses of wrong conduct.

If she is unrelated and he perceives her as unrelated, and he gets her to dye a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as unrelated, and he gets her to dye and beat a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as unrelated, and he gets her to dye and wash a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as unrelated, and he gets her to dye, beat, and wash a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and two offenses of wrong conduct.

If she is unrelated and he perceives her as unrelated, and he gets her to beat a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and confession. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as unrelated, and he gets her to beat and wash a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as unrelated, and he gets her to beat and dye a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and one offense of wrong conduct. If she is unrelated and he perceives her as unrelated, and he gets her to beat, wash, and dye a used robe, he commits one offense entailing relinquishment and two offenses of wrong conduct.

If she is unrelated, but he is unsure if she is … If she is unrelated, but he perceives her as related …

If he gets her to wash a used robe belonging to someone else, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he gets her to wash a sitting-mat or a bed sheet, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If he gets a nun who is fully ordained only on one side to do the washing, he commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If she is related, but he perceives her as unrelated, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If she is related, but he is unsure if she is, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If she is related and he perceives her as related, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if a related nun does the washing and an unrelated nun helps her; if a nun does the washing without being asked; if he gets a nun to wash an unused robe; if he gets a nun to wash any requisite apart from a robe; if it is a trainee nun; if it is a novice nun; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The fourth rule, the training rule on used robes, is finished.