Confession 94

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī. At that time, the World-honored One had laid down the precept that someone who has 12 full rains and fulfills the 10 requirements may take on a student. Then a bhikkhunī who had 12 full rains and fulfilled the 10 requirements took on a student. The bhikkhunīs were upset and said: “That you’ve 12 full rains and fulfill the 10 requirements, who can know that?”

When the bhikkhunīs heard this, they told Mahāpajāpatī, and she went to the World-honored One, and informed him of this matter. … She answered: “I really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha said:

Preliminary Ruling

From now on, to take on a student, a formal act to request permission should be carried out. After that, one should ask for the formal act to take-on-students.

Saṅghakamma

The master of ceremony should say: “May the noble sangha listen. Bhikkhunī So-and-so fulfills the 10 requirements. If the right time has come for the sangha, the bhikkhunī So-and-so wants to ask the sangha for the formal act to take-on-students. May the noble sangha listen. Bhikkhunī So-and-so fulfills the 10 requirements and wants to ask the sangha for the formal act to take-on-students. The sangha accepts this, therefore you’re silent. This matter is remembered thus.”

That bhikkhunī should then ask the sangha, kneeling and with joined palms: “May the noble sangha listen. I, So-and-so, have 12 full rains and fulfill the 10 requirements. Now I ask the sangha for the formal act to take-on-students. May the sangha do the formal act to take-on-students for me.” Like this three requests.

The master of ceremony should then say: “May the noble sangha listen. Bhikkhunī So-and-so has 12 full rains and fulfills the 10 requirements. She has asked the sangha for the formal act to take-on-students. If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha do the formal act to take-on-students for bhikkhunī So-and-so, who fulfills the 10 requirements. This is the motion. May the noble sangha listen. Bhikkhunī So-and-so has 12 full rains and fulfills the 10 requirements. She has asked the sangha for the formal act to take-on-students. The sangha now does the formal act to take-on-students for bhikkhunī So-and-so. The noble sangha accepts to do the formal act to take-on-students for bhikkhunī So-and-so. If you accept this, the sangha should remain silent. If you don’t accept this, you should speak. This is the first announcement.” A second and third time are recited in the same way. “The sangha has done the formal act to take-on-students for bhikkhunī So-and-so. The sangha accepts this, therefore you’re silent. This matter is remembered thus.”

Origin Story (continued)

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 who fulfills the 10 requirements takes on a student without a formal act, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” is as explained above. “Fulfilling the 10 requirements” is as explained above. “Without a formal act” means without carrying out the formal act in the midst of the sangha. This is called “without a formal act”. If she doesn’t fulfill the 10 requirements, it’s also called “without a formal act,” even if she carried out the formal act. If the motion isn’t complete, or if the assembly isn’t complete, or if the announcements are not complete, all these are called “without a formal act”. “Taking on students” means giving the full ordination. Giving the full ordination without a formal act is a pācittiya. This is what the World-honored One said.