Confession 104

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī. At that time, a bhikkhunī took on many students, but didn’t teach and instruct them. They were like heavenly cows and goats. They didn’t fulfill purity, they didn’t conduct themselves properly, they didn’t know how to behave respectfully towards their preceptor, 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 wearing the robes and holding the bowl.

The bhikkhunīs told Mahāpajāpatī, and she went to the World-honored One, and informed him of this matter. The Buddha said: “Summon that bhikkhunī.” When she came, he asked her: “Did you really do this?” She answered: “I really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha said: “This is an unwholesome thing. Why did you give the going forth to people, and not teach and instruct them? The text says 度: “give the going forth,” but the rule is about the full ordination.* From now on, you should teach and instruct them for two years.” 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 has given the full ordination to a student, she should teach and instruct her for two years. If she doesn’t teach her, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” is as explained above. “A student” means a student who lives with her. “Two years” means two rains. “Teach and instruct” means the abhidhamma and the vinaya. “Abhidhamma” means the nine parts of the suttas. “Vinaya” means the pātimokkha in brief and with its detailed explanation. Proper conduct should be taught. Improper conduct should be corrected. If she doesn’t teach and instruct, it’s a pācittiya. If the student can’t be taught, and doesn’t want to train, she should be expelled. If a bhikkhu lives together with a student, and doesn’t teach and exhort him, he breaks a minor vinaya rule. This is what the World-honored One said.