Confession 109

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī just took on a married woman who was 12 years old as her student, when the formal act of dependence on a preceptor hadn’t been carried out yet I.e. the saṅghakamma in the bhikkhunī sangha to give full ordination.*.

Among the bhikkhunīs were those of few wishes, who knew moderation and practised the austerities. When they heard of this matter, their minds weren’t pleased, and they criticized her with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called a bhikkhunī when you just take on a married woman who is 12 years old as your student, when the formal act of dependence on a preceptor hasn’t been carried out yet?” Having criticized her with all kinds of reasons, they explained it to the Buddha in detail. The Buddha gathered both sanghas because of this matter. He knew, and intentionally asked her: “Did you really do this?” She answered: “I really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha criticized her with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called a bhikkhunī when you just take on a married woman who is 12 years old as your student, when the formal act of dependence on a preceptor hasn’t been carried out yet?” Having criticized her with all kinds of reasons, he said to the bhikkhus: “For 10 benefits, I’ll lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs. From now on, this precept should be recited thus:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī just takes on a married woman who is 12 years old as her student, when the formal act of dependence on a preceptor hasn’t been carried out yet, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“Pācittiya” means burn, cook, cover, obstruct. If she doesn’t confess the offense, it can obstruct the path.

Herein, this is an offense: If a bhikkhunī just takes on a married woman who is 12 years old as her student, when the formal act of dependence on a preceptor hasn’t been carried out yet, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she takes one on, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 109.)