[159] On one occasion the Venerable Ānanda was dwelling at Kosambī, in Ghosita's Park. Then a certain bhikkhunī addressed a certain man: "Come, good man, go to the worthy Ānanda; having approached, pay homage in my name with your head at the worthy Ānanda's feet, saying: 'Venerable sir, the bhikkhunī named so-and-so is afflicted, in pain, gravely ill. She pays homage with her head at the worthy Ānanda's feet.' And say this: 'It would be good, venerable sir, if the worthy Ānanda would come to the bhikkhunīs' quarters, to that bhikkhunī, out of compassion.'"
"Yes, noble lady," that man replied to the bhikkhunī, and he approached the Venerable Ānanda; having approached and paid homage to the Venerable Ānanda, he sat down at one side. Sitting at one side, that man said this to the Venerable Ānanda: "Venerable sir, the bhikkhunī named so-and-so is afflicted, in pain, gravely ill. She pays homage with her head at the worthy Ānanda's feet, and she says this: 'It would be good, venerable sir, if the worthy Ānanda would come to the bhikkhunīs' quarters, to that bhikkhunī, out of compassion.'" The Venerable Ānanda consented by silence.
Then the Venerable Ānanda, in the morning, having dressed and taken his bowl and robe, went to the bhikkhunīs' quarters. That bhikkhunī saw the Venerable Ānanda coming from afar; having seen him, she covered herself from head to foot and lay down on her bed. Then the Venerable Ānanda approached that bhikkhunī; having approached, he sat down on the seat prepared. Having sat down, the Venerable Ānanda said this to that bhikkhunī:
"Sister, this body has come into being through nutriment; in dependence on nutriment, nutriment is to be abandoned. Sister, this body has come into being through craving (taṇhā); in dependence on craving, craving is to be abandoned. Sister, this body has come into being through conceit (māna); in dependence on conceit, conceit is to be abandoned. Sister, this body has come into being through sexual intercourse (methuna); sexual intercourse is to be abandoned; with regard to sexual intercourse, the demolition of the bridge (setughāta) has been declared by the Blessed One.
"'Sister, this body has come into being through nutriment; in dependence on nutriment, nutriment is to be abandoned' — so it was said. And with reference to what was this said? Here, sister, a bhikkhu, reflecting wisely, takes food: not for amusement, not for intoxication, not for adornment, not for beautification, but only for the maintenance and sustenance of this body, for the stilling of affliction, for the support of the holy life, considering: 'Thus I shall terminate the old feeling (vedanā) and not arouse a new feeling; and I shall be sustained, blameless, and dwell at ease.' At a later time, in dependence on nutriment he abandons nutriment. 'Sister, this body has come into being through nutriment; in dependence on nutriment, nutriment is to be abandoned' — when this was said, it was with reference to this that it was said.
"'Sister, this body has come into being through craving; in dependence on craving, craving is to be abandoned' — so it was said. And with reference to what was this said? Here, sister, a bhikkhu hears: 'The bhikkhu named so-and-so, it is said, through the destruction of the taints (āsava), has realized for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it, dwells therein.' It occurs to him thus: 'When indeed shall I too, through the destruction of the taints, realize for myself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it, dwell therein?' At a later time, in dependence on craving he abandons craving. 'Sister, this body has come into being through craving; in dependence on craving, craving is to be abandoned' — when this was said, it was with reference to this that it was said.
"'Sister, this body has come into being through conceit; in dependence on conceit, conceit is to be abandoned' — so it was said. And with reference to what was this said? Here, sister, a bhikkhu hears: 'The bhikkhu named so-and-so, it is said, through the destruction of the taints, has realized for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it, dwells therein.' It occurs to him thus: 'That venerable one, through the destruction of the taints, will realize for himself with direct knowledge, in this very life, the taintless liberation of mind and liberation by wisdom, and having entered upon it, will dwell therein — why then not I?' At a later time, in dependence on conceit he abandons conceit. 'Sister, this body has come into being through conceit; in dependence on conceit, conceit is to be abandoned' — when this was said, it was with reference to this that it was said.
"Sister, this body has come into being through sexual intercourse; sexual intercourse is to be abandoned; with regard to sexual intercourse, the demolition of the bridge has been declared by the Blessed One."
Then that bhikkhunī rose from her bed, arranged her upper robe over one shoulder, fell with her head at the Venerable Ānanda's feet, and said this to the Venerable Ānanda: "Venerable sir, a transgression overcame me, in that, so foolishly, so confusedly, so unskillfully, I acted thus. Venerable sir, may the worthy Ānanda accept my transgression as a transgression, for the sake of restraint in the future."
"Surely, sister, a transgression overcame you, in that, so foolishly, so confusedly, so unskillfully, you acted thus. But since you, sister, having seen your transgression as a transgression, make amends in accordance with the Dhamma, we accept it from you. For this, sister, is growth in the discipline of the Noble One: that one, having seen a transgression as a transgression, makes amends in accordance with the Dhamma and undertakes restraint in the future."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.