Confession 122

The 122nd training precept: Asking for a robe.

Origin Story

Location as before. Then Thullanandā bhikkhunī had a sikkhamānā who had trained in the rules for two years. She went to Thullā bhikkhunī and said: “Noble one, I’ve trained in the rules. Please give me the full ordination.” Thullā bhikkhunī said: “If you give me a robe, I’ll ordain you.” She answered: “I have no merit and receive few offerings. Where would I obtain a robe?” The bhikkhunīs asked her: “Why didn’t you receive the full ordination?” She answered: “I’ve already asked the noble Thullanandā to give me the full ordination. She said: ‘If you give me a robe, I’ll give you 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 woman hopes to receive the full ordination and tells her: “If you give me a robe, I’ll give you the full ordination”, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

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

“Hoping to receive the full ordination” means seeking to take on the training precepts.

“‘Give me a robe’” means asking for one of the seven robes. Mūlasarvāstivāda bhikkhunīs have five robes, just like in any other vinaya. This probably refers to the seven kinds of robe materials, cf. nissaggiya pācittiya 4.*

“‘I’ll give you the full ordination’” means that after she has received the robe, she carries out a formal act with a motion as fourth.

The rest is as explained before.