At one time when the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery, the nuns from the group of six were eating oil that they had asked for. … were eating honey that they had asked for. … were eating syrup that they had asked for. … were eating fish that they had asked for. … were eating meat that they had asked for. … were drinking milk that they had asked for. … were eating curd that they had asked for. People complained and criticized them, “How can nuns eat curd that they have asked for? Who doesn’t like nice food? Who doesn’t prefer tasty food?” The nuns heard the complaints of those people. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can the nuns from the group of six eat curd that they have asked for?” … “Is it true, monks, that those nuns do this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … “How can the nuns from the group of six do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

First preliminary ruling ‘If a nun asks for curd and then eats it, she must acknowledge it:

“I have done a blameworthy and unsuitable thing that is to be acknowledged. I acknowledge it.”’” In this way the Buddha laid down this training rule for the nuns.

Second substory Soon afterwards a number of nuns were sick. The nuns who were looking after them asked, “I hope you’re bearing up? I hope you’re getting better?” “Previously we ate curd that we had asked for, and then we were comfortable. But now that the Buddha has prohibited this, we don’t ask because we’re afraid of wrongdoing. And because of that we’re not comfortable.” … They told the Buddha. Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and addressed the monks: “Monks, I allow a sick nun to eat curd that she has asked for. And so, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling