Confession 125

Origin Story

At that time, the bhikkhunīs ordained chronically ill women. They couldn’t bear to train in the precepts, and were ignorant and without knowledge. 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 ordains a woman who is chronically ill, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“Chronically ill” means she suffers for a long time from heat and cold, and it appears to be permanent.

If she thinks about it, … when the formal act with a motion as fourth is finished, also as explained above.

If she contracts this disease after she has received the precepts, the offense isn’t committed.