Theravāda Vinayapiṭaka
Nuns’ rules and their analysis
Nuns’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 59
… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time nuns neither asked (the date of) the Observance day nor did they ask for exhortation. Monks … spread it about, saying: “How can these nuns neither ask (the date of) the Observance day nor ask for exhortation?” …
“Is it true, as is said, monks, that nuns neither … nor ask for exhortation?”
“It is true, lord.”
The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them, saying:
“How, monks, can nuns neither … nor ask for exhortation? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … this rule of training:
“Every half month a nun should desire two things from the Order of monks: the asking as to (the date of) the Observance day and the approaching for exhortation. For her who transgresses this, there is an offence of expiation.”
Every half month means: every Observance day.
Observance day means: the two Observance days, that on the fourteenth day and that on the fifteenth day.
Exhortation means: the eight important rules.
If she thinks, “I will neither ask (the date of) the Observance day nor ask for exhortation,” in throwing off the responsibility, … see Bi-Pc.58.2.1–Bi-Pc.58.2.2 … if she is the first wrong-doer.