Confession 122

Origin Story

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

Then the bhikkhunīs heard that the World-honored One had laid down a precept that 18 year-olds who have trained in the (sikkhamānā) precepts for two years may receive the full ordination when they’re 20. They gave the full ordination to 20 year-olds who hadn’t trained for two years in the precepts since they were 18. Lacking the two-year training in the precepts, they, after having received the full ordination, didn’t know which precepts they should train in.

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 these bhikkhunīs: “The World-honored One has laid down a precept that 18 year-olds who have trained in the precepts for two years may receive the full ordination when they’re 20. Why did you give the full ordination to 20 year-olds who hadn’t trained for two years in the precepts since they were 18? Lacking the two-year training in the precepts, they didn’t know which precepts they should train in.” Then the bhikkhunīs went and told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus went and told the World-honored One. The World-honored One 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. The World-honored One has laid down a precept that 18 year-olds who have trained in the precepts for two years may receive the full ordination when they’re 20. Why did you give the full ordination to 20 year-olds who hadn’t trained for two years in the precepts since they were 18? Lacking the two-year training in the precepts, they, after having received the full ordination, didn’t know which precepts they should train in.”

Then, when the World-honored One had criticized the bhikkhunīs in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “These bhikkhunīs have all kinds of taints, and are 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:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī doesn’t give the training precepts to an 18 year old girl for two years, but when she’s 20 still gives her the full ordination, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī, when an 18 year old girl hasn’t trained for two years in the precepts, still gives her the full ordination, when they’ve proclaimed 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 an 18 year old girl trains for two years in the precepts and she gives her the full ordination when she’s 20, 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 122nd rule.)