Confession 103

Origin Story

At that time, the bhikkhunīs, even if they had 12 vassa, took on students who were deaf, blind, mute, had all kinds of diseases, and were without any knowledge. They weren’t able to instruct or assist them, and the students were ignorant and without knowledge, and unable to train in the precepts. When the senior bhikkhunīs saw it, they criticized them in all kinds of ways, and told the Buddha of this matter. The Buddha gathered both sanghas because of this matter and asked the bhikkhunīs: “Did you really do this?” They answered: “We really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha criticized them in all kinds of ways: “Why did the bhikkhunīs take on students who are blind, deaf, mute, and have all kinds of diseases, whom they’re not able to instruct and assist? Therefore the students are ignorant and without knowledge, and unable to train in the precepts.” Having criticized them, he told the bhikkhus: “I now allow the bhikkhunīs to do a formal act with a motion as second to take on students. Such a bhikkhunī should go into the midst of the bhikkhunī sangha, take off her leather sandals, uncover her right shoulder, kneel down, join her palms, and say:

‘Venerables, may the sangha listen. I, bhikkhunī So-and-so, have 12 vassa and want to take on students. I ask the sangha for the formal act to take on students. It’d be good if the sangha carried out a formal act to take on students for me.’ She asks like this three times.

The bhikkhunīs should evaluate and examine if this bhikkhunī is capable of taking on students or not. If she’s not capable, they shouldn’t carry out the formal act to take on students. If she’s capable, they should carry it out. One bhikkhunī, the most senior, or the next in line, one who knows the dhamma and the vinaya, should announce:

Saṅghakamma

‘Venerables, may the sangha listen. This bhikkhunī So-and-so has 12 vassa and wants to take on So-and-so as her student. She asks the sangha for the formal act to take on students. The sangha now carries out the formal act to take on students. If the right time has come for the sangha, may the sangha approve it. This is the motion.’

‘Venerables, may the sangha listen. This bhikkhunī So-and-so has 12 vassa and wants to take on So-and-so as her student. She asks the sangha for the formal act to take on students. The sangha now carries out the formal act to take on students. Those of the venerables who accept it, should remain silent. Those who don’t accept it should speak.’ ‘The sangha has carried out 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)

I now lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs. From now on, this precept should be recited thus:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī, who has 12 vassa, takes on students when the sangha hasn’t carried out a formal act to take on students for her, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

The remainder is as explained above.