Suspension 5

Origin Story

At that time, the World-honored One was in Vesālī, in the hall with the peaked roof near the monkey pond. Then, some Licchavi women went out to enjoy themselves, and a female criminal was going with them in their group. She waited until they were amusing themselves, and then stole their valuables and ran away. The Licchavi women sent a messenger to tell the Licchavis: “There was a female criminal here who took our valuables and ran away. Please search her for us.” Then the Licchavis sent out people to search for her, and allowed to kill her. When the female criminal heard this report: “They sent out people to search, and allowed them to kill her,” she fled from Vesālī, and went to Rājagaha. She reached the bhikkhunī monastery, and said to the bhikkhunīs: “I’ve faith and desire to go forth.” When the bhikkhunīs heard this, they gave her the going forth and the full ordination. When the Licchavis heard that this female criminal had fled and gone to Rājagaha, they went and told king Bimbisāra of Magadha: “There’s a female criminal here who has taken our wives’ valuables, ran away, and came here. Please, may the king search her for us.” Then king Bimbisāra ordered his ministers to investigate and search her. The ministers informed the king: “There’s a female criminal who has already gone forth to practise the path in the bhikkhunī monastery.” When king Bimbisāra heard that there was a female criminal who had come there, and that the bhikkhunīs had already given her the going forth to practise the path, he sent a message to the Licchavis: “I heard that the female criminal has already gone forth to practise the path in the bhikkhunī monastery. I can’t say anything.” Then all the Licchavis were upset and said: “These bhikkhunīs know no shame, and they’re all criminals. Outwardly, they praise themselves: ‘We know the true dhamma’, but why did they ordain that female criminal? She should die for her crime, many people knew about it, and they gave her the going forth and the full ordination. How is that the true dhamma?”

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 that bhikkhunī: “Why did you give the going forth to practise the path to a female criminal?” Then the bhikkhunīs 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 that bhikkhunī: “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 knew that she’s a criminal. Why did you give her the going forth and the full ordination?” Then, when the World-honored One had criticized this bhikkhunī in countless ways, he said to the bhikkhus: “That bhikkhunī has all kinds of taints, and is 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: ‘If a bhikkhunī ordains a female criminal who should die, whom many people know about, and she gives her the going forth and the full ordination, that bhikkhunī commits an immediate offense that should be given up, a saṅghādisesa.’” In this way, the World-honored One laid down the precept for the bhikkhunīs.

Someone stole in the city and went to a village, someone stole in a village and entered the city. Then the bhikkhunīs didn’t know if someone was a criminal or not, whether she should die or not, whether people knew about her or not, and they only found out later that she was a criminal, that she should die, and that people knew about her. Some said that they had committed a saṅghādisesa. 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 previously knows that a woman is a criminal, sentenced to death, whom people know about, and she, without asking the king, a high official, or (the woman’s) clan, gives her the going forth and the higher ordination, that bhikkhunī commits an immediate offense that should be given up, a saṅghādisesa.’”

Explanation

The meaning of “bhikkhunī” is as above.

“A criminal” means she has stolen five coins, or more than five coins.

“She should die” means she has been placed among the dead.

“Many people know about” means the king knows, a high official knows, and the common people know.

“A king” means someone who doesn’t depend on people for food.

“A high official” means someone who has received a high rank from the king and assists in managing the country’s affairs.

“A clan” means the Sakyans, the Koliyans, the Macchas, the Vajjis, the Mallas, or the Sumanas.

If a bhikkhunī knows that she’s a female criminal, sentenced to death, whom many people know about, and she, without asking the king, a high official, or her clan, ordains her to practise the path, when they’ve carried out the three announcements, the preceptor commits a saṅghādisesa. When they’ve carried out the motion and two announcements, they’re three thullaccayas. When they’ve carried out the motion and one announcement, they’re two thullaccayas. When they’ve carried out the motion, it’s one thullaccaya. 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, or when they gather the sangha to give the going forth and the full ordination, in all cases it’s a dukkaṭa. When the assembly is complete, it’s also a dukkaṭa.

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

“Not committed” means if she doesn’t know, if she informs the king, a high official, or her clan, if (the woman) is sentenced to death but the king allows her to go forth, if she has committed a crime that allows for the going forth, if she’s released from prison to go forth, and if she’s saved and released, 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 fifth rule.)