Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 107Ekato viśuddhā

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS FOR BHIKKHUNĪS

– EXPLAINING THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀCITTIYAS

107. PRECEPT: ALLOWING AN ORDINATION TO BE DELAYED OVERNIGHT.

When the Buddha was residing in the city of Sāvatthī, at that time the bhikkhunī Thọ-đề wished to have her disciple receive full ordination and said to the bhikkhunī Thullanandā: "Venerable, please invite the Saṅgha on my behalf so that my disciple may receive full ordination." Thereupon the bhikkhunī Saṅgha proceeded to confer full ordination upon the ordinand (in accordance with the kammavācā of the home community). At that time, Thullanandā had invited the group of six bhikkhunīs. Thọ-đề then asked:

—Have you already invited the Saṅgha for me?

—I have already invited them.

—Whom did you invite?

—I invited the group of six bhikkhunīs.

—I will not make use of those ones.

Thus, the following morning, Thọ-đề proceeded to invite other virtuous bhikkhunīs to confer full ordination. The bhikkhunīs then brought the matter to Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī brought it before the Blessed One. The Buddha thereupon ordered that the bhikkhunī Thọ-đề be summoned. When she had arrived, the Buddha asked:

—Did this matter truly occur?

—It truly occurred thus, Blessed One!

—Thọ-đề, this is a wrong deed. Why, when a pure assembly was present, did you delay the full ordination until the next day, and moreover show contempt for the assembly? From this time forward, I do not permit, when a pure assembly is present, delaying full ordination until the next day, nor do I permit showing contempt for the assembly.

Thereupon, the Buddha instructed Mahāpajāpatī Gautamī to proclaim the order to all the bhikkhunīs residing in the city of Sāvatthī, requiring them to assemble together — even those who had already heard it must hear it again:

—If a bhikkhunī, when a pure assembly is present, delays full ordination until the next day, she commits a pācittiya offence.

EXPLANATION:

A pure assembly: That is, receiving full ordination within the bhikkhunī assembly.

Delaying overnight: If one delays until the following day to confer full ordination within the bhikkhu assembly, one commits a pācittiya offence.

Pācittiya: As stated above: the Buddha does not permit, when a pure assembly is present, delaying full ordination until the following day; nor does he permit showing contempt for the assembly, nor inviting an evil bhikkhu assembly to confer full ordination. One must first go and request virtuous bhikkhus. If it is not possible to invite a sufficient number, then at least half or more than half must be invited to carry out the kammavācā. If there should arise a calamity involving the king or bandits, making it impossible to complete the matter in a single day, so that it must be delayed overnight, there is no offence.

In the case of bhikkhus as well, one must not show contempt for the assembly; it is necessary to invite at least half, or more than half, of the preceptors to carry out the kammavācā. If one shows contempt for the assembly, one commits a dukkaṭa offence. Therefore the Blessed One spoke thus (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH THE ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

DOCTRINAL VERIFICATION: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH