Dharmaguptaka Vinaya
Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga
Confession 121
First Origin Story
At that time, the Buddha was in Sāvatthī in Jeta’s grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s park.
Then the bhikkhunīs heard that the Buddha had laid down a precept and allowed to ordain others. So they ordained young girls who didn’t know if they had desire in their minds or not. Later, they stood, talked, and amused themselves together with men with defiled minds.
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 rebuked these bhikkhunīs: “The World-honored One has laid down a precept and allowed to ordain others. Why did you then ordain young girls who stand, talk, and amuse themselves together with men with defiled minds?” Then they told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus went and told the Buddha. The Buddha for this reason gathered the bhikkhu sangha and criticized these bhikkhunīs: “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 then ordain young girls who don’t know if they’ve defiled minds or not and later stand, talk, and amuse themselves together with men with defiled minds?” When he had criticized the bhikkhunīs in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhunīs:
“Listen carefully. If you want to shave someone’s head inside the monastery, you should inform the whole bhikkhunī sangha to let them know. After you’ve carried out the motion, you may shave the head. You should carry out the motion as follows:
Saṅghakamma
‘Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. This So-and-so wants to request So-and-so to shave her head. If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha approve that So-and-so’s head be shaven. This is the motion.’
First Origin Story (continued)
After you’ve carried out the motion like this, you may shave the head. If you want to give the going forth to someone inside the monastery, you should inform the whole bhikkhunī sangha. After you’ve carried out the motion, you may give the going forth. You should carry out the motion as follows:
Saṅghakamma
‘Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. This So-and-so requests the going forth from So-and-so. If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha approve to give So-and-so the going forth. This is the motion.’
First Origin Story (continued)
After you’ve carried out the motion like this, you may give the going forth. You should carry out the going forth as follows: After her head has been shaven and she has put on the monastic robes, you should instruct her to place her right knee on the ground, join her palms, and say: ‘I, So-and-so, take refuge in the Buddha, take refuge in the dhamma, take refuge in the sangha. I request the going forth in the Tathāgata’s teaching. My preceptor is So-and-so. The Tathāgata, without attachment and fully awakened, is my World-honored One.’ The second and the third time should be recited likewise.
‘I, So-and-so, have taken refuge in the Buddha, have taken refuge in the dhamma, have taken refuge in the sangha. I request the going forth in the Tathāgata’s teaching. My preceptor is So-and-so. The Tathāgata, without attachment and fully awakened, is my World-honored One.’ When she has recited it a second and a third time, then you should give her the precepts: ‘Not to kill living beings for your whole life, this is a sāmaṇerī precept. Can you keep it or not?’ One who can keep it should answer: ‘I can.’ ‘Not to steal for your whole life, this is a sāmaṇerī precept. Can you keep it or not?’ One who can keep it should answer: ‘I can.’ ‘Not to have sex for your whole life, this is a sāmaṇerī precept. Can you keep it or not?’ One who can should answer: ‘I can.’ ‘Not to lie for your whole life, this is a sāmaṇerī precept. Can you keep it or not?’ One who can should answer: ‘I can.’ ‘Not to drink alcohol for your whole life, this is a sāmaṇerī precept. Can you keep it or not?’ One who can should answer: ‘I can.’ ‘Not to wear flowers, perfume, and ornaments for your whole life, this is a sāmaṇerī precept. Can you keep it or not?’ One who can should answer: ‘I can.’
‘Not to sing, dance, play music, and not being allowed to go watch it for your whole life, this is a sāmaṇerī precept. Can you keep it or not?’ One who can should answer: ‘I can.’ ‘You may not sit on high, broad, and large beds for your whole life, this is a sāmaṇerī precept. Can you keep it or not?’ One who can should answer: ‘I can.’ ‘Not to eat at the wrong time for your whole life, this is a sāmaṇerī precept. Can you keep it or not?’ One who can should answer: ‘I can.’ ‘You may not take gold, silver, and money for your whole life, this is a sāmaṇerī precept. Can you keep it or not?’ One who can should answer: ‘I can.’ ‘These are the 10 sāmeṇerī precepts. Can you keep them for your whole life or not?’ One who can should answer: ‘I can.’
From now on, I allow an 18 year old girl to train in the (sikkhamānā) precepts for two years. When she’s 20, she may receive the full ordination in a formal act with a motion as fourth. You should recite the precept as follows: The sāmaṇerī should go into the midst of the sangha, uncover her right shoulder, take off her leather sandals, pay respect at the bhikkhunī sangha’s feet, place her right knee on the ground, join her palms, and say:
Saṅghakamma
‘Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. I, sāmaṇerī So-and-so, now ask the sangha for the training precepts for two years with bhikkhunī So-and-so as my preceptor. May the sangha give me the training precepts for two years out of compassion.’
First Origin Story (continued)
When she has recited it a second and a third time, the sāmaṇerī should go to a place out of earshot but within sight. In the bhikkhunī sangha, they should choose a capable person who can carry out formal acts as above. She should carry out the motion:
Saṅghakamma
‘Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. This sāmaṇerī So-and-so now asks the sangha for the training precepts for two years with So-and-so as her preceptor.
If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha approve to give sāmaṇerī So-and-so the training precepts for two years with So-and-so as her preceptor. This is the motion.’ ‘Venerable sisters, may the sangha listen. This sāmaṇerī So-and-so asks the sangha for the training precepts for two years with So-and-so as her preceptor. The sangha now gives sāmaṇerī So-and-so the training precepts for two years with So-and-so as her preceptor. Those of the venerable sisters who accept that the sangha gives this sāmaṇerī So-and-so the training precepts for two years, with So-and-so as her preceptor, should remain silent. Those who don’t accept this should speak. This is the first announcement.’ The second and the third should be recited likewise. ‘The sangha has accepted to give sāmaṇerī So-and-so the training precepts for two years, with So-and-so as her preceptor. The sangha accepts this, therefore you’re silent. This matter is remembered thus.’
First Origin Story (continued)
This sikkhamānā should train in all precepts, except that she can take food with her own hands, and can offer food to others. When she has trained in the precepts for two years and is 20 years old, she should be given the full ordination in a formal act with a motion as fourth.
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
‘When an 18 year old girl has trained for two years in the precepts, a bhikkhunī may give her the full ordination when she’s 20. If a bhikkhunī gives the full ordination to someone below 20, 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 20 and who wasn’t, and they only found out later that someone wasn’t 20. 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 someone isn’t yet 20 and gives her the full ordination, it’s a pācittiya.’”
Explanation
The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.
If a bhikkhunī knows that someone isn’t 20 years old 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 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 the 18 year-old has trained for two years in the precepts and she gives her the full ordination when she’s 20, if she doesn’t know, if (the girl) says herself that she’s 20, if (the bhikkhunī) believes a trustworthy person’s words, or if she believes her parents’ words. If she gives her the full ordination and later has doubts, she should count the months in the womb, the intercalary months, and the 14-day uposatha days, and 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 121st rule.)