Confession 112

The 112th training precept: Not instructing.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī gave the going forth and the full ordination to anyone who came, without looking at their family background. She didn’t instruct or guide them, and they didn’t wear the robes according to the rules: the upper and lower robes weren’t evenly adjusted. They didn’t know the regulations, and just went anywhere. The bhikkhunīs saw them, were upset, and asked: “Whose students are these?” Someone answered: “Thullā bhikkhunī’s.” The bhikkhunīs then said: “Noble one, why don’t you instruct them and let them know about the rules?” She answered: “I now have many students. How could I teach all of them?” 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 gives someone the going forth and the full ordination, and doesn’t teach her the precepts, it’s a pācittiya.’” The pātimokkha says: If a bhikkhunī gives someone the going forth and the full ordination, and doesn’t teach her, it’s a pācittiya.*

Explanations

“A bhikkhunī” means Thullanandā, or any other bhikkhunī.

“Giving someone the going forth” means giving someone the sāmaṇerī precepts.

“Giving the full ordination” means in a formal act with a motion as forth.

“Not teaching” means not instructing.

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