“One should be content with what one gets, Because excessive greed is bad. After grabbing hold of the king of geese, The gold came to an end.” Then, after rebuking the nun Thullanandā in many ways, the Buddha spoke in dispraise of being difficult to support … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling ‘If a nun eats garlic, 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. Garlic: from Magadha is what is meant. If she receives it with the intention of eating it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. For every mouthful swallowed, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Permutations If it is garlic and she perceives it as such, and she eats it, she commits an offense entailing confession. If it is garlic, but she is unsure of it, and she eats it, she commits an offense entailing confession. If it is garlic, but she does not perceive it as such, and she eats it, she commits an offense entailing confession. If it is not garlic, but she perceives it as such, and she eats it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not garlic, but she is unsure of it, and she eats it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. If it is not garlic and she does not perceive it as such, and she eats it, there is no offense.

Non-offenses There is no offense: if it is an onion; if it is a shallot; if it is chebulic myrobalan; if it is a spring onion; if it is cooked in a bean curry; if it is cooked with meat; if it is cooked with oil; if it is in sweets; if it is a special curry; if she is insane; if she is the first offender. The training rule, the first, is finished.

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law The Nuns’ Analysis The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on garlic Removing pubic hair

Origin story