Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 104Nānuśāset

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS OF THE BHIKKHUNĪS

– EXPOSITION OF THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀYATTIKA RULES

104. PRECEPT: CONFERRING FULL ORDINATION AND THEN FAILING TO INSTRUCT.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Śrāvastī, at that time certain bhikkhunīs were keeping many disciples without instructing them, leaving them like wild cattle or wild goats—not knowing how to maintain cleanliness, their deportment incomplete; not knowing how to serve the preceptor or ācārya, not knowing how to serve the senior bhikkhunīs, not knowing the proper conduct for entering villages or dwelling in the forest, not knowing how to wear the robe or hold the bowl. The bhikkhunīs then spoke to Mahāprajāpatī. Mahāprajāpatī brought the matter and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha immediately ordered that bhikkhunī to be summoned. When she arrived, the Buddha asked:

—Did this matter truly occur?

—It is exactly so, Blessed One!

—That is a wrongful thing. Why did you receive someone into the order and yet not instruct her? From now on you must instruct for two years.

Thereupon the Buddha instructed Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī to transmit the order to all the bhikkhunīs dwelling in the city of Śrāvastī to assemble together, and even those who had already heard it were to hear it again:

—If a bhikkhunī confers full ordination upon a disciple, she must instruct her for two years. If she does not instruct her, she commits a pāyattika offence.

EXPLANATION:

Disciple: This refers to a disciple who lives together with her.

Two years: This means two rains retreats.

Instruct: Either teaching Abhidharma or teaching Vinaya.

Abhidharma: This refers to the nine divisions of scripture.

Vinaya: This refers to the Prātimokṣa, whether taught in full or in brief. If one sees them displaying proper deportment, one should encourage them. If one sees them violating proper deportment, one should restrain them. If one fails to instruct them, one commits a pāyattika offence. If the disciple is unteachable or unwilling to learn, she must be expelled.

If a bhikkhu fails to instruct a disciple who lives together with him, he commits a dukkaṭa offence. Therefore the Blessed One spoke thus (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHĀDRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

Doctrinal verification: Thích Đỗng Minh