Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga: Pācittiya 74

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on unmarried women

Giving ordination while under twelve years’ seniority

Origin story

1 At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time nuns who had less than twelve years of seniority were giving the full admission. They were ignorant and incompetent, and they did not know what was allowable and what was not. And their students too were ignorant and incompetent, and they too did not know what was allowable and what was not.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can nuns who have less than twelve years of seniority give the full admission?” … “Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them … “How can nuns do this? This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

‘If a nun who has less than twelve years of seniority gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

2 A:

whoever …

Nun:

… The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case.

Who has less than twelve years of seniority:

who has not reached twelve years of seniority.

Gives the full admission:

gives the full ordination. If, intending to give the full admission, she searches for a group, a teacher, a bowl, or a robe, or she establishes a monastery zone, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. After each of the first two announcements, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. When the last announcement is finished, the preceptor commits an offense entailing confession, and the group and the teacher commit an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if one who has twelve years of seniority gives the full admission; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.

The fourth training rule is finished.