Mahīśāsaka Vinaya
Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga
Confession 121
Origin Story
At that time, the bhikkhunīs gave the full ordination to students, and didn’t assist them, instruct them, and teach them to recite and study. They 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, … “I now lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs, as explained above. From now on, this precept should be recited thus:
Final Ruling
‘If a bhikkhunī takes on a student, and doesn’t assist her for six years herself, or instructs others to assist her, it’s a pācittiya.’”
Explanations
If the student doesn’t accept instruction, the offense isn’t committed.