Confession 119

First Origin Story

At that time, the Buddha was in Sāvatthī in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park.

Then there was a bhikkhunī called Pālā. When she had given the full ordination to a pregnant woman, (the woman) later gave birth to a boy. Holding him in her arms, she entered the village on almsround. When the householders saw this, they were all upset and said: “This bhikkhunī knows no shame, she has committed impure practices. Outwardly, she praises herself: ‘I know the true dhamma’, how is that the true dhamma? Look at this renunciate’s newly-born baby.”

When the bhikkhunīs heard this, there were among them those with few wishes, who knew moderation, who practised the austerities, who were keen on training in the precepts, and who knew shame. They criticized Pālā bhikkhunī: “Why did you ordain a pregnant woman?” They went and told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus told the Buddha. The Buddha for this reason gathered the bhikkhu sangha and criticized Pālā bhikkhunī: “What you did is wrong, is improper conduct, against the rules of renunciates, an impure practice, a practice not to be followed, shouldn’t be done. Why did you ordain a pregnant woman?” When he had criticized her in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “This bhikkhunī has all kinds of taints, and is the first to break this precept. From now on, I’ll lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs, and state the 10 principles: … So that the true dhamma may last long. Someone wishing to recite the precept should recite like this:

Preliminary Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī gives the full ordination to a pregnant woman, it’s a pācittiya.’” In this way the World-honored One laid down the precept for the bhikkhunīs.

Second Origin Story

Then the bhikkhunīs didn’t know who was pregnant and who wasn’t, and they only found out later that someone was pregnant. Some among them confessed a pācittiya. Some had doubts. (The Buddha said:) “If you don’t know, there’s no offense. From now on, you should recite the precept like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī knows that a woman is pregnant and gives her the full ordination, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī knows that a woman is pregnant and gives her the full ordination, when they’ve carried out the three announcements, the preceptor commits a pācittiya. When they’ve carried out the motion and two announcements, it’s three dukkaṭas. When they’ve carried out the motion and one announcement, it’s two dukkaṭas. When they’ve carried out the motion, it’s one dukkaṭa. If the motion hasn’t yet been finished, it’s a dukkaṭa. If they haven’t yet done the motion, when they shave her head, when she puts on the robes, when they give her the (sāmaṇerī) precepts, when they gather the sangha, or when the assembly is complete, in all cases it’s a dukkaṭa.

For a bhikkhu, it’s a dukkaṭa. This is called “to commit”.

“Not committed” means if she doesn’t know, if she believes that person’s words, if she believes a trustworthy person’s words, if she believes her parents’ words, and gives her the full ordination, and later (the new bhikkhunī) gives birth to a child, the offense isn’t committed.

When someone had given birth, she had doubts and didn’t dare to hold and embrace (the baby). The Buddha said: “If they can’t yet live apart from the mother, I allow to do everything as a mother does to breast-feed and nurture them.” Later, she had doubts and didn’t dare to stay overnight in the same room as this boy. The Buddha said: “If he can’t stay apart from the mother overnight yet, I allow to stay overnight in the same place.” Then the offense isn’t committed.

“Not committed” means if she’s the first offender when the precept hadn’t yet been laid down, if she’s mad, if she’s distracted, or if she’s overcome with pain. (End of the 119th rule.)