Confession 139

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 and allowed to give the full ordination to others, and they then gave the the full ordination in the bhikkhunī sangha, and after a night had passed, they went to the bhikkhu sangha. And some among the people who had been given the full ordination became blind, deluded, deaf, lame, crippled, and got all kinds of other diseases that disgraced the sangha.

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: “When the World-honored One had laid down a precept and allowed to ordain people, why did you then ordain people who are blind, deluded, deaf, lame, crippled, and have all kinds of other diseases that disgrace the sangha?” Having criticized them, 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 ordain people who are blind, deluded, deaf, lame, crippled, and have all kinds of other diseases that disgrace the sangha?” 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 when she has given the full ordination to someone, goes to the bhikkhu sangha to give the full ordination after a night has passed, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

On the same day that a bhikkhunī gives the full ordination, she should also go to the bhikkhu sangha to give the full ordination. If a bhikkhunī gives the full ordination, and goes to the bhikkhu sangha to give the full ordination after a night has passed, it’s a pācittiya. This is called “to commit”.

“Not committed” means if she gives the full ordination and goes to the bhikkhu sangha to give the full ordination on the same day, if she wants to go there to give the full ordination, but is sick, or if a waterway or overland road has been cut off, if there’s a danger from savage animals, if there’s a danger from criminals, if there’s a great flood, if she’s held by force, if she’s imprisoned, if her life is in danger, or if her celibacy is in danger, and she can’t go to the bhikkhu sangha on the same day, 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 139th rule.)

Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, fascicle 28.