Confession 110

The 110th training precept: Just taking on many students.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī gave the going forth and the full ordination to people without limit. She didn’t give them names, such as Buddharakkhitā, Dhammarakkhitā, Saṅgharakkhitā, etc., but when she had some work to to, she called them: “Hey, students!” When they heard it, they didn’t know whom she called. Sometimes, she also called them: “Hey, sāmaṇerī! Hey, sikkhamānā! Hey, young one!” And sometimes, she called them: “One vassa! … up to: ten vassa!” When she called them like this, they all didn’t know whom the teacher called. Bhikkhunīs said to her: “Noble one, you could give them the full ordination, but didn’t give them names? Why did you create this confusion?” Thullā bhikkhunī said: “I have many (followers). How should I give them names?” The bhikkhunīs said: “Noble one, how could taking on students without limit be compatible with a pure state?” She replied: “Pure or impure, I’ve already done it.” The bhikkhunīs told the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus told the Buddha. The Buddha said: “Bhikkhunīs shouldn’t take on students without limit. If a bhikkhunī wants to take on students without limit, that bhikkhunī should ask the sangha for the procedure for taking on students without limit. Only after she has obtained it from the sangha, she may take on students.

Saṅghakamma

If she’s capable, 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, So-and-so, have 12 vassa and am capable of taking on students. May the bhikkhunī sangha give me, So-and-so, the procedure for taking on students without limit, 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 wants to take on followers without limit. This So-and-so now asks the bhikkhunī sangha for the procedure for taking on followers without limit. 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 without limit for So-and-so. This is the motion.’ Then she carries out the announcement:

‘Venerable bhikkhunīs, may the sangha listen. This bhikkhunī So-and-so wants to take on followers without limit. This So-and-so now asks the bhikkhunī sangha for the procedure for taking on followers without limit. The bhikkhunī sangha now carries out the procedure for taking on followers without limit for So-and-so. If the long-lived ones approve to carry out the procedure for taking on followers without limit for So-and-so, you should remain silent. If you don’t approve, you should speak.’ ‘The bhikkhunī sangha has carried out the procedure for taking on followers without limit for So-and-so. 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 to ask the sangha for the procedure for taking on students without limit. When the sangha hasn’t approved it yet, she may not take on students without limit. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī took someone on without authorization, when the sangha hadn’t done (the procedure) for taking on students without limit yet. 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 many people, when the sangha hasn’t carried out the procedure for taking on students without limit yet, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“A bhikkhunī” is as above.

“The sangha” means the disciples of the Tathāgata.

“Not carried out yet” means not approved to acquire students yet.

“Without limit” means as many as she wants.

“Just taking on many students” means taking on students beyond the limit.

“A procedure” means a formal act with a motion as second.

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

Recite the 12th summary verse:

Ordaining a pregnant woman, not teaching,

Not protecting, not taking away,

Two rules about girls, a bad person,

Excessively grieving, two about the six rules.