Confession 131

Origin Story

At that time, the World-honored 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 and allowed the bhikkhunīs to ask the sangha for the Giving-of-full-ordination. When newly-trained, young ones had asked the sangha for the Giving-of-full-ordination, they couldn’t instruct. Because (the new bhikkhunīs) weren’t instructed, they weren’t established in proper conduct, didn’t wear their robes neatly, did their almsround not according to dhamma, accepted improper food here and there, or accepted food in improper bowls, and shouted loudly during breakfast and lunch like at a gathering of brahmins.

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: “When you heard that the World-honored One had laid down a precept and allowed to ordain people, why did you, who are newly-trained and young, ask for the Giving-of-full-ordination without being able to instruct? Because (the new bhikkhunīs) weren’t instructed, they weren’t established in proper conduct, didn’t wear their robes neatly, … and shouted loudly during breakfast and lunch like at a gathering of brahmins.” When the bhikkhunīs had rebuked them, they 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. Why did you, who are newly-trained and young, ask for the Giving-of-full-ordination without being able to instruct? Because (the new bhikkhunīs) weren’t instructed, they weren’t established in proper conduct, didn’t wear their robes neatly, did their almsround not according to dhamma, … and shouted loudly like at a gathering of brahmins.” When the World-honored One had criticized these 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, who doesn’t yet have 12 vassa, gives the full ordination to someone, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

If a bhikkhunī, who doesn’t yet have 12 vassa, gives the full ordination to someone, it’s a pācittiya. If she has less than 12 and gives dependence, or takes on a sikkhamānā or a sāmaṇerī, in all cases it’s a dukkaṭa.

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

“Not committed” means if she has 12 vassa and gives the full ordination to someone, or gives dependence, or takes on a sikkhamānā or a sāmaṇerī, 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 131st rule.)