[197] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's monastery. Now at that time a certain bhikkhunī was a frequenter of a family (kulupikā) of a certain family, receiving a regular meal there. Then that bhikkhunī, in the morning, having dressed and taken her bowl and robe, approached that family; having approached and sat down on a seat, she departed without taking leave of the owners. A female slave of that family, while sweeping the house, put that seat away in among the vessels. The people, not seeing that seat, said this to that bhikkhunī: "Lady, where is that seat?"
"Friends, I do not see that seat."
Saying "Give back that seat, lady," they reviled her and cut off the regular meal. Then those people, while cleaning the house, saw that seat in among the vessels, asked that bhikkhunī's forgiveness, and re-established the regular meal.
Then that bhikkhunī reported this matter to the bhikkhunīs. Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … deplored, criticized, and spread it about: "How can a bhikkhunī, having approached families before the meal and sat down on a seat, depart without taking leave of the owners?" …
"Is it true, bhikkhus, as is said, that a bhikkhunī, having approached families before the meal and sat down on a seat, departed without taking leave of the owners?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "Bhikkhus, how can a bhikkhunī, having approached families before the meal and sat down on a seat, depart without taking leave of the owners? This, bhikkhus, is not for the arousing of confidence in those without confidence …. And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule:
"Whatever bhikkhunī, having approached families before the meal and sat down on a seat, should depart without taking leave of the owners, there is an offense of expiation (pācittiya)."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.