Confession 176

Origin Story

At that time, the bhikkhunīs ordained intersex persons. The lay people criticized them: “Why did the bhikkhunīs ordain an intersex person? They don’t (know) I follow the parallel passage in pācittiya 116 for my translation: 諸比丘尼不知可度、不可度, which includes 知, “know”.* who is ordainable and who isn’t. This isn’t the practice of renunciates. They’ve broken the rules of renunciates.” When the senior bhikkhunīs heard 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 an intersex person, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

If she has doubts, she should look first.

If she thinks about it, up to when the three announcements aren’t yet finished, it’s a dukkaṭa. When they’re finished, it’s a pācittiya for the preceptor. For the other bhikkhunī teachers and the sangha, it’s a dukkaṭa.