Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 92Under Twelve Years of Seniority

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS FOR BHIKKHUNĪS

– CLARIFYING THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀCITTIYAS

92. PRECEPT: TAKING DISCIPLES WITHOUT HAVING COMPLETED TWELVE RAINS

When the Buddha was dwelling in the city of Sāvatthī, there were bhikkhunīs of one, two, or three rains' seniority who took disciples without knowing how to instruct them, leaving them to roam freely like wild goats or wild cattle. Their pure conduct was incomplete, their deportment was incomplete; they did not know how to attend upon the preceptress (upadhyāyikā) or the teacher (ācāryā), they did not know how to attend upon the senior bhikkhunīs, they did not know the proper conduct for entering villages, the proper conduct for dwelling in the forest (āraṇya), they did not know the proper conduct for entering the Saṅgha, and they did not know how to wear robes or hold the bowl.

The bhikkhunīs then brought this matter and reported it to the Blessed One. The Buddha immediately instructed that those bhikkhunīs be summoned. When they had arrived, the Buddha asked:

—Is it true that you did this?

—It is true, Blessed One.

—From now on, I do not permit a bhikkhunī who has not completed twelve rains to take disciples.

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

—If a bhikkhunī who has not completed twelve rains takes a disciple, she commits a pācittiya offense.

EXPLANATION:

Not having completed twelve rains: Not having completed twelve years is called not having completed twelve rains. A bhikkhunī who has not completed twelve rains but has completed twelve years is also called one who has not completed twelve rains. A bhikkhunī who has not completed twelve rains but has exceeded twelve years is also called one who has not completed twelve rains.

A bhikkhunī who received full ordination (upasampadā) in the winter season, but has not yet passed the pavāraṇā of the twelfth winter, is also called one who has not completed twelve rains. If she received full ordination in the spring season, but has not yet passed the pavāraṇā of the twelfth spring, she is also called one who has not completed twelve rains. If she received full ordination during the early rains retreat (pubbupavasatha) and has passed through the twelfth early rains retreat but has not yet performed pavāraṇā, she is also called one who has not completed twelve rains.

If she received full ordination during the late rains retreat (pacchāupavasatha) and has passed through the twelfth late rains retreat but has not yet performed pavāraṇā, she is also called one who has not completed twelve rains.

A bhikkhunī who has completed twelve rains but has not yet completed twelve years is called one who has completed twelve rains. A bhikkhunī who has completed twelve rains and twelve years, or has exceeded twelve years, is called one who has completed twelve rains (twelve vassas).

A bhikkhunī who received full ordination in the winter season, has completed the rains retreat, and has performed pavāraṇā, is called one who has completed twelve rains. The same applies if she received full ordination in the spring season, completed the rains retreat, and performed pavāraṇā. If she received full ordination during the early rains retreat, completed the early rains retreat, and performed pavāraṇā; if she received full ordination during the late rains retreat, completed the late rains retreat, and performed pavāraṇā—these are called twelve rains (twelve vassas of seniority).

If a bhikkhunī (who has not completed twelve rains) takes a disciple and grants her full ordination, she commits a pācittiya offense.

Pācittiya: As stated above. If a bhikkhunī who has not completed twelve rains ordains a person, she commits a Vinayātikrama offense. If she grants them full ordination, she commits a pācittiya offense.

If a bhikkhu who has not completed twelve rains ordains a person and grants them full ordination, he commits a Vinayātikrama offense (?). Therefore, the Blessed One has spoken (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