Confession 97

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī. At that time, the World-honored One had laid down the precept that it’s not allowed to give the full ordination to a girl of less than 20 rains. Then bhikkhunīs gave the full ordination to girls of 20 rains. The bhikkhunīs were upset and said: “Whether you’ve 20 rains or not, who can know that?”

The bhikkhunīs told Mahāpajāpatī, and she went to the World-honored One, and informed him of this matter. … The Buddha said:

Preliminary Ruling

From this day on, an 18 year old girl who wants to receive the full ordination in the Tathāgata’s dhamma, should ask the sangha for the training precepts for two years. First a formal act to request permission should be carried out, and afterwards, she should ask.

Saṅghakamma

The master of ceremony should say: “May the noble sangha listen. The 18 year old girl So-and-so wants to receive the full ordination in the Tathāgata’s dhamma-vinaya. If the right time has come for the sangha, So-and-so wants to ask the sangha for the training precepts for two years. May the noble sangha listen. The 18 year old girl So-and-so wants to ask the sangha for the training precepts for two years. The sangha accepts this, therefore you’re silent. This matter is remembered thus.”

That woman should then ask the sangha: “May the noble sangha listen. I, So-and-so, an 18 year old girl, want to receive the full ordination in the Tathāgata’s dhamma-vinaya. Now I ask the sangha for the training precepts for two years. May the sangha give me the training precepts for two years out of compassion.” Like this three requests.

The master of ceremony should then say: “May the noble sangha listen. The 18 year old girl So-and-so wants to receive the full ordination in the Tathāgata’s dhamma-vinaya. She has asked the sangha for the training precepts for two years. If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha give So-and-so the formal act of the two-year-training-precepts. This is the motion. May the noble sangha listen. The 18 year old girl So-and-so wants to receive the full ordination in the Tathāgata’s dhamma-vinaya. She has asked the sangha for the training precepts for two years. The sangha now gives So-and-so the training precepts for two years. The noble sangha accepts that the sangha gives So-and-so the training precepts for two years. 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 given So-and-so the training precepts for two years. 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 gives the full ordination to a 20 year old girl who hasn’t been given the training precepts, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“Twenty years old” means 20 full rains. If she has 20 rains, but has less than 20 calendar years, it’s still called “20 full rains”. … born during the second rains, and been through the invitation ceremonies at the end of the second rains 20 times, this is called “full”. “Not been given the training precepts” means she hasn’t been given the formal act to give training precepts. This is called “not been given”. “Not fulfilling the 10 requirements” is also called “not been given the training precepts”. This seems to refer to the preceptor, not to the girl.* Even if a formal act is carried out, if the assembly isn’t complete, or the motion isn’t complete, or the announcements aren’t complete; if any of these aren’t complete, and someone gives the full ordination, it’s a pācittiya. This is what the World-honored One said.