Confession 107

Origin Story

At that time, the bhikkhunīs gave the full ordination to girls, who, although they were 18 years old, were deaf, mute, and had all kinds of diseases. … “I now allow the bhikkhunīs to do a formal act with a motion as second to give an 18 year old girl the training precepts for two years. Someone who wants to receive the training precepts should go into the midst of the bhikkhunī sangha and say: ‘Venerables, may the sangha listen. I, So-and-so, with So-and-so as my preceptor, now ask the sangha for the training precepts for two years. It’d be good, venerables, if the sangha gave me the training precepts for two years out of compassion.’ Having asked like this three times, the bhikkhunīs should well evaluate if she’s eligible or not. One bhikkhunī should do a formal act, based on the explanation above.” He told the bhikkhus: “I now lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs. From now on, this precept should be recited thus:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī gives a girl the training precepts, even if she’s 18 years old, when the sangha hasn’t carried out a formal act, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

The remainder is as explained above.

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