Confession 107

The 107th training precept: Just taking on a student.

Origin Story

Location as before. At that time, the World-honored One had laid down the precept that bhikkhunīs with 12 vassa may give others the going forth and the full ordination. Even if bhikkhunīs had 12 vassa, they were foolish, didn’t distinguish clearly, and didn’t properly understand, but they gave others the going forth and the full ordination. Since they, untamed themselves, wanted to tame others, unenlightened themselves, wanted to enlighten others, not yet crossed over themselves, wanted to make others cross over, and unable to save themselves, wanted to save others, it was all impossible. Then bhikkhunīs who were truly without virtue or capabilites just ordained students. The bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus told the Buddha. The Buddha said: “If a bhikkhunī has the capability to instruct students, she should ask the sangha, and they should carry out the formal act to take on students, as follows:

Saṅghakamma

The sangha should gather everyone with 12 vassa or more. That bhikkhunī should pay respect in order, and in front of the most senior, she should join her palms, kneel down, and say: ‘Venerable bhikkhunīs, may the sangha listen. I, bhikkhunī So-and-so have 12 vassa and am capable of instructing students. I now ask the bhikkhunī sangha for the formal act to take on students. May the bhikkhunī sangha give me, bhikkhunī So-and-so, the formal act to take on students, out of compassion.’ She speaks like this three times. Then one bhikkhunī carries out the motion and the announcement:

‘Venerable bhikkhunīs, may the sangha listen. This bhikkhunī So-and-so has 12 vassa, and wants to take on followers. This So-and-so has now asked the bhikkhunī sangha for the procedure for taking on followers. If the right time has come for the bhikkhunī sangha to allow this, the bhikkhunī sangha should approve that the bhikkhunī sangha now carries out the procedure for taking on followers for So-and-so, who has 12 vassa. This is the motion.’ Then she carries out the announcement:

‘Venerable bhikkhunīs, may the sangha listen. This bhikkhunī So-and-so has 12 vassa, and wants to take on followers. This So-and-so has now asked the bhikkhunī sangha for the procedure for taking on followers. The bhikkhunī sangha now carries out the procedure for taking on followers for So-and-so, who has 12 vassa. If the long-lived ones approve to carry out the procedure for taking on followers for So-and-so, who has 12 vassa, you should remain silent. If you don’t approve, you should speak.’ ‘The bhikkhunī sangha has carried out the procedure for taking on followers for So-and-so, who has 12 vassa. The bhikkhunī sangha has approved, therefore you’re silent. I now remember it like this.’”

Origin Story (continued)

In this way, the World-honored One allowed a bhikkhunī who is capable of instructing students to ask the sangha for the procedure for taking on students. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī, who hadn’t received the procedure for taking on students from the sangha yet, gave others the going forth and the full ordination without authorization. The bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus told the Buddha. The Buddha asked and criticized, as explained in detail, down to: “I’ll lay down another training precept. You should recite it like this:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī just takes on students when the sangha hasn’t carried out the procedure for taking on students yet, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“A bhikkhunī” is as above.

“When the sangha hasn’t carried out the procedure for taking on students yet” means the sangha hasn’t approved it yet.

“Just taking on students” means giving others the going forth and the full ordination.

The explanations of the rule factors etc. are as explained before.