Confession 107

Origin Story

The Buddha was staying in Rājagaha. At that time, Jetā bhikkhunī wanted to give her student the full ordination. She said to Thullanandā bhikkhunī: “Venerable, invite the (bhikkhu) sangha on my behalf to give the full ordination to my student.” Later the bhikkhunī sangha gave her the full ordination. Thullanandā bhikkkhunī invited and assembled (lit. obtained) the group-of-six bhikkhus. Jetā asked: “Have you invited and assembled the sangha on my behalf yet?” (Thullanandā) answered: “I’ve assembled them.” “Who have you assembled?” She answered: “I’ve assembled the group-of-six bhikkhus.” (Jetā) said: “I’m not going to use them. Tomorrow, I’ll invite good bhikkhus to give the full ordination.”

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.” The Buddha said: “Jetā, this is an unwholesome thing. Why did you wait overnight before giving the full ordination to someone who has been purified in one sangha? And you also slighted the (bhikkhu) sangha. From now on, it’s no longer allowed to wait overnight before giving the full ordination to someone who has been purified in one sangha. And it’s not allowed to slight the (bhikkhu) sangha.” The Buddha told Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī: “Convene all the bhikkhunīs living in the vicinity of Rājagaha. … Those who have already heard it should listen again:

Final Ruling

If a bhikkhunī waits overnight before giving the full ordination to someone who has been purified in one sangha, it’s a pācittiya.”

Explanation

“A bhikkhunī” is as explained above. “Purified in one sangha” means having received the full ordination in the bhikkhunī sangha. “Waiting overnight” means until the next day; if one then gives her the full ordination in the bhikkhu sangha, it’s a pācittiya. “Pācittiya” is as explained above. It’s not allowed to wait overnight before giving the full ordination to someone who has been purified in one sangha. It’s also not allowed to slight the (bhikkhu) sangha. And it’s not allowed to invite a sangha of bad monks to give the full ordination. One should first look for good bhikkhus. If one can’t assemble (enough), one should look for half, or more than half, of the required number to carry out the formal act. If there’s trouble caused by kings or criminals, and one can’t assemble (bhikkhus), one may wait overnight without offense. It’s not allowed for a bhikkhu to slight the sangha. He should carry out the formal act by assembling half, or more than half, of good bhikkhus. If he slights the sangha, he breaks a minor vinaya rule. This is what the World-honored One said.