Confession 123

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 old girls who have been given the training precepts for two years, and who have been given the six rules, may be given the full ordination when they’re 20. They gave the full ordination to people who hadn’t been given the six rules. When they trained in the precepts, they engaged in impure practices, stole (something worth) five coins, took the life of human beings, praised themselves as having attained a superhuman state, ate after noon, and drank alcohol.

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 that 18 year old girls who have trained for two years in the precepts, and who have been given the six rules, may be given the full ordination when they’re 20. Why did you give the full ordination without instructing them in the six rules? They broke their celibacy, stole (something worth) five coins, … and drank alcohol.” Then they 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. You, bhikkhunīs, should give the training precepts to 18 year old girls for two years, and give the six rules, and when they’re 20, give them the full ordination. But why did you not give them the six rules, which made them break their celibacy, … and drink alcohol?”

When he had criticized them 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 gives the training precepts to an 18 year old girl for two years, but doesn’t give her the six rules, and when she’s 20, still gives her the full ordination, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a sikkhamānā has sex, she should be permanently expelled. If with a defiled mind, she and a man with a defiled mind touch each other, she’s deficient in her precepts and should be given the precepts again. If she steals (something worth) five coins or more than five coins, she should be permanently expelled. If it’s less than five coins, she’s deficient in her precepts and should be given the precepts again. If she takes the life of a human being, she should be permanently expelled. If she takes the life of an animal, she’s deficient in her precepts and should be given the precepts again. If she says about herself that she has attained a superhuman state, she should be permanently expelled. If she intentionally lies in the sangha, she’s deficient in her precepts and should be given the precepts again. If she eats at the wrong time, she’s deficient in her precepts and should be given the precepts again. If she drinks alcohol, she’s deficient in her precepts and should be given the precepts again.

If a bhikkhunī has given the training precepts to an 18 year old girl for two years, but hasn’t given her the six rules, and still gives her the full ordination when she’s 20, 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 has trained for two years in the precepts, has been given the six rules, and is given the full ordination, 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 123rd rule.)