Confession 92

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī. At that time, bhikkhunīs who had one, two, or three rains took on students. They didn’t know how to instruct them and were heedless themselves like heavenly goats and cows. The Sanskrit parallel says “They flourished like Indra’s cattle, they flourished like Shiva’s goats.”* They didn’t keep pure precepts, they didn’t conduct themselves properly, they didn’t know how to behave respectfully towards their preceptors, teachers, and the senior bhikkhunīs. They didn’t know the rules for entering the village and the wilderness. They didn’t know the rules for being with the sangha, they didn’t know how to wear the robes and hold the bowl.

The bhikkhunīs went to the World-honored One and informed him of this matter. The Buddha said: “Summon those bhikkhunīs.” When they came, he asked them: “Did you really do this?” They answered: “We really did this.” The Buddha said: “From now on, it’s no longer allowed for someone with less than 12 rains to take on students.” The Buddha told Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī: “Convene all the bhikkhunīs living in the vicinity of Sāvatthī. … Those who have already heard it should listen again:

Final Ruling

If a bhikkhunī of less than 12 rains takes on a student, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” is as explained above. “Less than 12 rains” means less than 12 years. This is called “less than 12 rains.” If a bhikkhunī has less than 12 rains but has 12 full calendar years, it’s still called “less than 12 rains”. If bhikkhunī has less than 12 rains but has more than 12 calendar years, it’s still called “less than 12 rains”. If a bhikkhunī has received the full ordination in winter, and has 12 full winters, but hasn’t yet been through (that year’s) invitation (pavāraṇā) ceremony, it’s still called “less than 12 rains”. If a bhikkhunī has received the full ordination in spring, and has 12 full springs, but hasn’t yet been through (that year’s) invitation (pavāraṇā) ceremony, it’s still called “less than 12 rains”. If a bhikkhunī has received the full ordination during the first rains retreat, and hasn’t yet been through (that year’s) invitation (pavāraṇā) ceremony of the first rains, it’s still called “less than 12 rains”. If a bhikkhunī has received the full ordination during the second rains retreat, and hasn’t yet been through (that year’s) invitation (pavāraṇā) ceremony of the second rains, it’s still called “less than 12 rains”.

If a bhikkhunī has 12 full rains, but has less than 12 years, it’s called “12 full rains”. If a bhikkhunī has 12 full rains and 12 full years, or more than 12 years, it’s called “12 full rains”. If a bhikkhunī has received the full ordination in winter, and been through the invitation ceremony at the end of (that year’s) rains retreat, this is called “12 full rains”. If a bhikkhunī has received the full ordination in spring, and been through the invitation ceremony at the end of (that year’s) rains retreat; if a bhikkhunī has received the full ordination during the first rains, and been through the invitation ceremony at the end of (that year’s) first rains retreat; if a bhikkhunī has received the full ordination during the second rains, and been through the invitation ceremony at the end of (that year’s) second rains retreat; these are called “12 full rains”. If a bhikkhunī takes on a student, or gives the full ordination, it’s a pācittiya. “Pācittiya” is as explained above. If a bhikkhunī of less than 12 rains gives the going forth to someone, she breaks a minor vinaya rule. If she gives the full ordination, it’s a pācittiya. If a bhikkhu of less than 12 rains gives the going forth or the full ordination to someone, he breaks a minor vinaya rule. This is what the World-honored One said.