Confession 115

The 115th training precept: Giving the full ordination to a girl below 20.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī gave the going forth to an 18 year old girl, and gave her the two-year training in the six rules and the six supplementary rules. When she wasn’t 20 yet, she still gave her the full ordination. The bhikkhunīs said: “According to what the World-honored One said, an 18 year old girl should be given the two-year training in the six rules and the six supplementary rules, and when she’s 20, she should be given the full ordination. Why did the noble one, knowing that someone is younger, still give her the full ordination? Is that considered pure (conduct)?” She answered: “Pure or impure, I’ve already given her the full ordination.” 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 knows that a girl isn’t 20 yet, and gives her the full ordination, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

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

“A girl” means someone who hasn’t moved to a man’s house yet. i.e. isn’t married yet.*

“Not 20 years old yet” means giving the full ordination at 19.

The rest is as above.

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