Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga: Pācittiya 82

Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on unmarried women

Ordaining every year

Origin story

1 At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the nuns were giving full admission every year, and the nunnery did not have sufficient capacity. People complained and criticized them, “How can the nuns give full admission every year, when the nunnery doesn’t have sufficient capacity?”

The nuns heard the complaints of those people. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can the nuns give full admission every year?” … “Is it true, monks, that the nuns do this?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them … “How can the 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 gives full admission every year, 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.

Every year:

every twelve-month period.

Gives full admission:

gives 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 she gives full admission every other year; if she is insane; if she is the first offender.

The twelfth training rule is finished.