Confession 135

First 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 one may ordain someone, and the bhikkhunīs then gave the full ordination to women who were in love with boys or men, and who were distressed, and liked getting angry. Having received the full ordination, because they were thinking of men, they were distressed and angry and quarreled with the other bhikkhunīs.

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 the World-honored One had laid down a precept and allowed to ordain people, why did you then give the full ordination (to women) who were in love with boys or men, were distressed, and liked getting angry? After having received the full ordination, because they were thinking of men, they were distressed and angry, and quarreled with the other bhikkhunīs.” 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. Why did you give the full ordination to women who were in love with boys or men, were distressed, and liked getting angry? After having received the full ordination, because they were thinking of men, they were distressed and angry, and quarreled with the other bhikkhunīs.” 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:

Preliminary Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī gives the full ordination to a woman who is in love with a boy or a man, and is distressed and angry, 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 in love with a boy or a man and who wasn’t, and who was distressed and angry and who wasn’t, and they only found out later that someone was in love with a boy or a man. Some 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 in love with a boy or a man, and that she’s a distressed and angry woman, and gives her the going forth and the full ordination, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“Being in love with a boy or a man” means having an affair.

“Being distressed and angry” means to quarrel with the other bhikkhunīs after having received the full ordination because one is thinking of a man.

If a bhikkhunī knows that a woman is in love with a boy or a man, and that she’s distressed and angry, 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 they give her the 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 at first, if she believes a trustworthy person’s words, if she believes her parents’ words, or if after she has given her the full ordination, an illness arises, 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 135th rule.)