The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her, “How could Venerable Thullanandā personally give food to householders?” … “Is it true, monks, that the nun Thullanandā does this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked her … “How could the nun Thullanandā do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling ‘If a nun personally gives fresh or cooked food to a householder or a male wanderer or a female wanderer, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions A: whoever … Nun: … The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case. A householder: anyone who lives at home. A male wanderer: any male wanderer apart from Buddhist monks and novice monks. A female wanderer: any female wanderer apart from Buddhist nuns, trainee nuns, and novice nuns. Fresh food: apart from the five cooked foods and water and tooth cleaners, the rest is called “fresh food”. Cooked food: there are five kinds of cooked food: cooked grain, porridge, flour products, fish, and meat. Gives: if she gives by body or by what is connected to the body or by releasing, she commits an offense entailing confession. If she gives water or tooth cleaners, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses