Lzh Dg Bi Vb Pc 130Ordaining Trained Unmarried Girls Without Approval

– DHARMAGUPTAKA VINAYA

– PĀCITTIYA

RULE 130

A. ORIGIN STORY

At one time, the Buddha was staying in the garden of Anāthapiṇḍika, in the Jeta Grove, in the country of Śrāvastī. At that time, the Blessed One had laid down a rule permitting the conferral of full ordination. Foolish bhikkhunīs, however, ordained others without knowing how to educate them. Because they received no education, these ordinands did not understand proper deportment, wore their robes improperly, went on alms-rounds not in accordance with the Dharma, accepted impure food everywhere, or accepted impure food in an impure bowl. At mealtimes, both at light meals and full meals, they called out loudly, like the manner of assembly among brahmins.

The bhikkhunīs who heard of this — among them those who were few in desire and content, who lived the ascetic practices, who delighted in training in the precepts, and who were possessed of shame — reproached those bhikkhunīs: "The Blessed One has laid down a rule permitting ordination. Why do you foolish ones also hasten to ordain others without knowing how to educate them? Because they receive no education, they do not understand proper deportment — and at mealtimes, both at light meals and full meals, they call out loudly, like the manner of assembly among brahmins."

The nuns then reported the matter to the bhikkhus, and the bhikkhus went and reported it to the Blessed One. The Blessed One, on account of this cause and condition, assembled the community of bhikkhus and rebuked those bhikkhunīs:

"You have acted wrongly. This is not proper deportment, not the conduct of a renunciant, not pure practice, not befitting conduct — you have done what ought not to be done. Although the Blessed One has laid down a rule permitting ordination, why did you foolish ones hasten to ordain others without knowing how to educate them? Because they received no education, they do not understand proper deportment, go on alms-rounds not in accordance with the Dharma, accept impure food everywhere, or accept food in an impure bowl. At mealtimes, both at light meals and full meals, they call out loudly, like the manner of assembly among brahmins."

Having rebuked them with numerous means, the Blessed One said to the bhikkhus:

FORMAL ACT FOR AUTHORIZING A COMMUNITY

From now on, I permit the Saṅgha to carry out a single-motion, two-announcement formal act (ñatti-dutiyakamma) to authorize one who wishes to confer full ordination upon another. That person shall come before the midst of the Saṅgha and make request. The request should be made as follows: she comes into the assembly of bhikkhunīs, bares the right shoulder, removes her sandals, pays reverence at the feet of the bhikkhunīs, kneels on the right knee, joins her palms, and addresses them thus:

"Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please hear me. I, the bhikkhunī named —, request the Saṅgha to permit me to confer full ordination upon another."

The second and third times, she speaks in the same way.

The bhikkhunī Saṅgha should consider whether that person is capable of educating others, of providing training in the precepts for two years, and of providing care in two respects — namely, the Dharma and requisites of robe and food — and if so, consent may be given. If she is not capable of educating others, cannot provide training in the precepts for two years, and cannot provide care in those two respects, then it should be said:

"Sister, desist. You should not ordain others."

If she is wise and capable of educating others, of providing training in the precepts for two years, and of providing care in those two respects, then the community of nuns should designate one who is capable of performing the formal act, and in accordance with the matter at hand, a motion should be put as follows:

"Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please hear me. This bhikkhunī named — has now come before the Saṅgha to request the authority to confer full ordination upon another. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha consents to grant the bhikkhunī named — the authority to confer full ordination upon another. This is the motion.

"Venerable Sisters of the Saṅgha, please hear me. This bhikkhunī named — has now come before the Saṅgha to request the authority to confer full ordination upon another. The Saṅgha now grants the bhikkhunī named — the authority to confer full ordination upon another. Those venerable sisters who consent to the Saṅgha granting the bhikkhunī named — the authority to confer full ordination upon another should remain silent. Those who do not consent should speak."

"The Saṅgha has consented to grant the bhikkhunī named — the authority to confer full ordination upon another. The Saṅgha consents and is therefore silent. So it is recorded."

"From now on, I lay down this rule for the bhikkhunīs, encompassing the ten bases of meaning, up to and including the phrase 'for the long abiding of the true Dharma.'"

Wishing to recite the rule, it should be recited as follows:

Whatever bhikkhunī, without the Saṅgha's authorization, confers full ordination upon another — pācittiya.

B. ANALYSIS OF THE RULE

Bhikkhunī: as explained above.

Authorization: the Saṅgha carries out a single-motion, two-announcement formal act authorizing that bhikkhunī.

If, without the Saṅgha's authorization, she confers full ordination upon another — pācittiya. If, without the Saṅgha's authorization, she gives another a preceptor, or takes in a sāmaṇerī, a sikkhāmānā — dukkaṭa.

For a bhikkhu — dukkaṭa. This is called an offense.

Non-offense: if the Saṅgha has authorized her to confer full ordination upon another, and she accepts a bhikkhunī as a dependant and takes in a sāmaṇerī or sikkhāmānā. This is called non-offense.

Those who do not commit an offense: one who commits it for the first time before the rule has been laid down; one who is insane, mentally disturbed, or overcome by severe pain.

---

Vietnamese translation: Bhikkhu Thích Đỗng Minh and Thích Đức Thắng. Dharmaguptaka Vinaya, Part One.

Chinese translation: Tripiṭaka masters Buddhayaśas and Zhu Fonian.

Revised and annotated by: Bhikkhu Thích Nguyên Chứng.

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

Buddhist Publications Committee, 2002.