[85] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in Jeta's Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, having been formally admonished (samanubhaṭṭhā) by the Saṅgha, spoke thus to the bhikkhunīs: "Live in company, ladies; do not live apart. There are in the Saṅgha other bhikkhunīs too of such conduct, of such repute, of such renown, vexers of the bhikkhunī Saṅgha, concealers of one another's faults; to them the Saṅgha says nothing. It is to you alone that the Saṅgha—out of contempt, out of disdain, out of impatience, out of tale-bearing, and because of your weakness—speaks thus: 'The sisters live in company, of bad conduct, of bad repute, of bad renown, vexers of the bhikkhunī Saṅgha, concealers of one another's faults. Separate yourselves, ladies; the Saṅgha praises only seclusion for the sisters.'"
Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … looked down upon, criticized, and spread it about, saying: "How can the lady Thullanandā, having been formally admonished by the Saṅgha, speak thus to the bhikkhunīs: 'Live in company, ladies; do not live apart …. Separate yourselves, ladies; the Saṅgha praises only seclusion for the sisters'?" …
"Is it true, bhikkhus, as is said, that the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, having been formally admonished by the Saṅgha, speaks thus to the bhikkhunīs: 'Live in company, ladies; do not live apart …. Separate yourselves, ladies; the Saṅgha praises only seclusion for the sisters'?"
"It is true, Blessed One."
The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked her: "How, bhikkhus, can the bhikkhunī Thullanandā, having been formally admonished by the Saṅgha, speak thus to the bhikkhunīs: 'Live in company, ladies; do not live apart …. Separate yourselves, ladies; the Saṅgha praises only seclusion for the sisters'? This, bhikkhus, does not conduce to the confidence of those without confidence …. And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule:
"Should any bhikkhunī speak thus: 'Live in company, ladies; do not live apart. There are in the Saṅgha other bhikkhunīs too of such conduct, of such repute, of such renown, vexers of the bhikkhunī Saṅgha, concealers of one another's faults; to them the Saṅgha says nothing. It is to you alone that the Saṅgha—out of contempt, out of disdain, out of impatience, out of tale-bearing, and because of your weakness—speaks thus: "The sisters live in company, of bad conduct, of bad repute, of bad renown, vexers of the bhikkhunī Saṅgha, concealers of one another's faults. Separate yourselves, ladies; the Saṅgha praises only seclusion for the sisters,"' that bhikkhunī should be spoken to by the bhikkhunīs thus: 'Do not, lady, speak thus: "Live in company, ladies; do not live apart. There are in the Saṅgha other bhikkhunīs too of such conduct, of such repute, of such renown, vexers of the bhikkhunī Saṅgha, concealers of one another's faults; to them the Saṅgha says nothing. It is to you alone that the Saṅgha—out of contempt, out of disdain, out of impatience, out of tale-bearing, and because of your weakness—speaks thus: 'The sisters live in company, of bad conduct, of bad repute, of bad renown, vexers of the bhikkhunī Saṅgha, concealers of one another's faults. Separate yourselves, ladies; the Saṅgha praises only seclusion for the sisters.'"' And should that bhikkhunī, being spoken to thus by the bhikkhunīs, persist in the same way, that bhikkhunī should be formally admonished by the bhikkhunīs up to the third time for the relinquishing of that [course]. If, being admonished up to the third time, she relinquishes it, that is good; if she does not relinquish it, this bhikkhunī too has fallen into an offence [complete] on the third admonition (yāvatatiyaka), entailing sending away (nissāraṇīya), a saṅghādisesa."
English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.