Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 121Ordaining Married Girls Under Twenty

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 121

A. ORIGIN STORY

1. ORDAINING A YOUNG GIRL

At one time the Buddha was dwelling in the Anāthapiṇḍika Park, Jeta's Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time certain bhikṣuṇīs, having heard that the Buddha had laid down a rule permitting them to ordain others, hastily ordained young girls of tender years without knowing whether those girls harbored sensual desire or not. Afterward those girls stood about and engaged in playful conversation with men who harbored defiled minds.

The bhikṣuṇīs who heard of this—among them those of few desires, who were content, who practiced the ascetic virtues, who delighted in training in the precepts, and who possessed a sense of shame and conscience—reproached those bhikṣuṇīs, saying: "The Blessed One has laid down a rule permitting the ordination of others. Why then did you ordain young girls of tender years? They stand about and engage in playful conversation with men and women who harbor defiled minds."

The bhikṣuṇīs reported the matter to the bhikṣus. The bhikṣus went and reported it to the Buddha. The Buddha, on account of this cause and condition, assembled the Bhikṣu Saṅgha and rebuked those bhikṣuṇīs, saying:

"What you have done is wrong. It is not in keeping with proper conduct, it is not in accordance with the Dharma of śramaṇas, it is not pure conduct, it is not fitting behavior—it is something that ought not to have been done. Why did you ordain young girls of tender years without knowing whether they harbored defiled minds or not? Afterward those girls stood about and engaged in playful conversation with men who harbored defiled minds."

Having rebuked the bhikṣuṇīs with these and many other means, the Buddha said to the bhikṣuṇīs:

2. SHAVING THE HEAD

"Listen carefully. If you wish to shave the head of one to be ordained within the monastery, you must inform the entire Bhikṣuṇī Saṅgha. Only after making a formal announcement may you proceed to shave the head. The text of the announcement is as follows:

"'Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen. This young woman named … has come seeking to have her head shaved by the bhikṣuṇī named … If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha consents to the shaving of the head of the young woman named … This is the announcement.'

"Only after making this announcement may the head be shaved.

"If you wish to confer the going-forth within the monastery, you must inform the entire Bhikṣuṇī Saṅgha. Only after making a formal announcement may you confer the going-forth. The text of the announcement is as follows:

"'Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen. This woman named … has come seeking the going-forth with … If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha consents to the going-forth of the woman named … This is the announcement.'

"Only after making this announcement may the going-forth be conferred."

3. CONFERRING THE ŚRĀMAṆERĪ PRECEPTS

After making the announcement for the going-forth in this manner, after shaving the head and putting on the kaṣāya robe, have her kneel down, join her palms, and recite the following:

"I, whose name is …, take refuge in the Buddha, take refuge in the Dharma, take refuge in the Saṅgha. I, within the teaching of the Tathāgata, seek to go forth under the preceptress bhikṣuṇī named … The Tathāgata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is my Blessed One." (Repeat a second and third time in the same manner.)

"I, whose name is …, have taken refuge in the Buddha, have taken refuge in the Dharma, have taken refuge in the Saṅgha. I, within the teaching of the Tathāgata, seek to go forth under the preceptress bhikṣuṇī named … The Tathāgata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, is my Blessed One." (Repeat a second and third time in the same manner.)

Then the precepts are conferred:

"Throughout your life, not to take life—this is the precept of a śrāmaṇerī. Can you uphold it?"

If she can uphold it, she answers: "I can."

"Throughout your life, not to steal—this is the precept of a śrāmaṇerī. Can you uphold it?"

If she can uphold it, she answers: "I can."

"Throughout your life, not to engage in sexual intercourse—this is the precept of a śrāmaṇerī. Can you uphold it?"

If she can uphold it, she answers: "I can."

"Throughout your life, not to speak falsely—this is the precept of a śrāmaṇerī. Can you uphold it?"

If she can uphold it, she answers: "I can."

"Throughout your life, not to drink intoxicants—this is the precept of a śrāmaṇerī. Can you uphold it?"

If she can uphold it, she answers: "I can."

"Throughout your life, not to wear garlands, perfumes, or ornaments—this is the precept of a śrāmaṇerī. Can you uphold it?"

If she can uphold it, she answers: "I can."

"Throughout your life, not to sing, dance, play music, and not to watch or listen to such things—this is the precept of a śrāmaṇerī. Can you uphold it?"

If she can uphold it, she answers: "I can."

"Throughout your life, not to sit on high or wide and large seats—this is the precept of a śrāmaṇerī. Can you uphold it?"

If she can uphold it, she answers: "I can."

"Throughout your life, not to eat at improper times—this is the precept of a śrāmaṇerī. Can you uphold it?"

If she can uphold it, she answers: "I can."

"Throughout your life, not to handle gold, silver, or money—this is the precept of a śrāmaṇerī. Can you uphold it?"

If she can uphold it, she answers: "I can."

"These ten precepts are those of a śrāmaṇerī. Can you uphold them?"

If she can uphold them, she answers: "I can."

4. CONFERRING THE TRAINING PRECEPTS

"From this time forward, I permit a young woman who is eighteen years of age to train in the precepts for two years, and when she has reached the full age of twenty, to receive full ordination by the formal act of one announcement and three motions. The precepts are to be conferred as follows:

"The śrāmaṇerī must come before the midst of the Saṅgha with her right shoulder bared, her sandals removed, paying homage at the feet of the Bhikṣuṇī Saṅgha, with her right knee touching the ground and her palms joined, and make an announcement as follows:

"'Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen. I, the śrāmaṇerī named …, now come before the Saṅgha to request the two-year training in precepts. The bhikṣuṇī named … is my preceptress. I request the Saṅgha to grant me the two-year training in precepts, out of compassion.' (Repeat a second and third time in the same manner.)

"Then the śrāmaṇerī must withdraw to a place within eyesight but out of earshot. Among the Bhikṣuṇī Saṅgha, a qualified bhikṣuṇī is appointed to perform the karmavācanā. Based on the above matter, she makes the announcement as follows:

"'Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen. That śrāmaṇerī named … has now come before the Saṅgha to request the two-year training in precepts. The bhikṣuṇī named … is her preceptress. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha consents to granting the śrāmaṇerī named … the two-year training in precepts, with the bhikṣuṇī named … as preceptress. This is the announcement.

"'Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please listen. That śrāmaṇerī named … has come before the Saṅgha to request the two-year training in precepts. The bhikṣuṇī named … is her preceptress. The Saṅgha now grants the śrāmaṇerī named … the two-year training in precepts, with the bhikṣuṇī named … as preceptress. Those venerable sisters who consent to the Saṅgha granting the śrāmaṇerī named … the two-year training in precepts, with the bhikṣuṇī named … as preceptress, please remain silent. Those who do not consent, please speak. This is the first motion.' (Repeat a second and third time in the same manner.)

"'The Saṅgha has consented to granting the śrāmaṇerī named … the two-year training in precepts, with the bhikṣuṇī named … as preceptress. The Saṅgha consents and therefore is silent. This matter is so recorded.'

"That śikṣamāṇā must train in all precepts, with the exception of the rule concerning 'personally receiving food and handing food to others.' After she has trained in the precepts for two years and has reached the full age of twenty, full ordination is to be conferred upon her by the formal act of one announcement and three motions.

"From this time forward, I establish this rule for the bhikṣuṇīs, comprising ten principles, down to the phrase 'for the long abiding of the true Dharma.'"

The rule is to be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikṣuṇī takes a young woman who is eighteen years of age, gives her two years of training in precepts, and then, when she is twenty years of age, confers full ordination upon her—that is proper. Whatever bhikṣuṇī confers full ordination upon a woman who has not yet reached twenty years of age: pācittiya.

The Blessed One established this rule for the bhikṣuṇīs in this manner. At that time certain bhikṣuṇīs did not know whether a woman had reached twenty years of age or not; they learned afterward that she had not, and so some performed the formal act of confession for a pācittiya, while others were in doubt. The Buddha instructed:

"If one did not know, there is no offense."

From this time forward the rule is to be stated as follows:

Whatever bhikṣuṇī, knowing that a woman has not yet reached twenty years of age, confers full ordination upon her: pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikṣuṇī: as explained above.

If a bhikṣuṇī knows that a woman has not yet reached twenty years of age and confers full ordination upon her: upon completion of the third motion, the preceptress bhikṣuṇī incurs a pācittiya. Upon completion of the second motion, three duṣkṛtas. Upon completion of the first motion, two duṣkṛtas. Upon completion of the announcement, one duṣkṛta. If the announcement is not yet complete, one duṣkṛta. Before the announcement, when the assembly has been convened and the quorum is complete, all incur duṣkṛtas.

A bhikṣu: duṣkṛta. These are called offenses.

Non-offense: if the candidate is eighteen years of age, she is given two years of training in precepts, and upon reaching the full age of twenty, full ordination is conferred upon her; or if one did not know; or if the candidate herself stated that she was twenty years of age; or if one trusted the word of a trustworthy person, or trusted the word of her parents. If doubt arises after the ordination has already been conferred, one should count the months spent in the womb, count intercalary months, and count every fourteen-day recitation period to make up the full number—in such a case there is no offense.

Those who do not incur offense: one who commits an act for the first time before the rule has been promulgated; one who is deranged, mentally disturbed, or tormented and overwhelmed by pain.

Vietnamese translation: Bhikṣu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA, PART ONE.

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhú Fóniàn.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikṣu Thích Nguyên Chứng.

(Chinese translation, fascicles 1–21; Vietnamese translation, volumes 1 and 2.)

Buddhist Studies Editorial Board, 2002.