Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 102Ordaining Untrained Married Girls

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– RULES OF DISCIPLINE FOR BHIKKHUNĪS

– EXPOSITION OF THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀCITTIYAS

102. RULE: CONFERRING FULL ORDINATION ON A MARRIED WOMAN WHO HAS NOT COMPLETED HER TRAINING.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, at that time the bhikkhunī Kālī gave the wife of the royal official Sudinaka the going forth and conferred full ordination upon her. Because she had been pregnant while still living at home, her belly gradually grew larger. The bhikkhunīs then rebuked her, saying:

—Having received the training precepts and yet being pregnant, you ought to be expelled.

—From the time of my going forth until now, I have had no knowledge of such a matter.

The bhikkhunīs then reported this to Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī in turn went and presented the matter to the Blessed One. The Buddha then instructed: "This woman, from the time of her going forth onward, has had no knowledge of that matter—namely, sexual intercourse—meaning the fetus was conceived while she was still living at home. If such a situation arises, full ordination should not yet be conferred; one must wait until after she has given birth. If she gives birth to a girl, full ordination may be conferred after the birth. If she gives birth to a boy, one must wait until the child is weaned before conferring full ordination. However, if a close female relative says: 'Bring the child here and I will raise it'—if such a situation arises—then full ordination may be conferred."

Thereupon the Buddha instructed Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī to transmit the order to all the bhikkhunīs living in the city of Sāvatthī to assemble together, so that even those who had already heard it should hear it again:

—If a bhikkhunī confers full ordination upon a married woman who has not yet completed her training in the precepts, she commits a pācittiya offense, as has been set forth above in the rule concerning an unmarried girl who has not completed her training.

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH