Using a dildo (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC4)

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on garlic

Using a dildo

Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

At that time a woman who had previously belonged to the king’s harem had gone forth as a nun.

Another nun who was plagued by lust went to that nun and said,

“Venerable, the king only came to you at long intervals.

How did you cope?”

“With a dildo.”

“What’s a dildo?”

That nun described a dildo to her.

The other nun then used a dildo. But she forgot to wash it before disposing of it in a certain place.

The nuns saw it covered with flies, and they said,

“Who did this?”

“I did it,” she replied.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized her,

“How could a nun use a dildo?” …

“Is it true, monks, that a nun did this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked her,

“How could a nun use a dildo?

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

‘If a nun uses a dildo, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”¹

Definitions

A dildo:

made of resin, made of wood, made of flour, made of clay.

Uses:

if she consents to the contact and inserts it into her vagina, even if it is just a water-lily leaf, she commits an offense entailing confession.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if she does it because she is sick;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The fourth training rule is finished.