Lzh Mg Bi Vb Pc 95Duḥśilā

– MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

– PRECEPTS FOR BHIKKHUNĪS

– EXPLICATING THE FIRST SECTION OF THE 141 PĀYANTIKA RULES

95. PRECEPT: CONFERRING ORDINATION UPON ONE WHO HAS BROKEN THE PRECEPTS.

When the Buddha was residing at Vesālī, the bhikkhunī Kālī at that time gave the going-forth to the third daughter of the Licchavī clan and then allowed her to train in the rules. Thereupon that woman took a key, opened the door of another's room, and lived together with laypeople and those of other sects. The bhikkhunīs then rebuked Kālī, saying: "This person has broken the precepts—she takes a key and opens the doors of others' rooms, and lives together with men—so why have you conferred full ordination upon her?" The bhikkhunīs then spoke of this to Mahāpajāpatī. Mahāpajāpatī in turn reported the matter in full to the Blessed One. The Buddha directed that Kālī be summoned. When she had come, the Buddha asked:

—Did this matter truly occur?

—It truly did, Blessed One.

—This is a grave wrong. Why, knowing that this person had broken the precepts, took a key, opened the doors of others' rooms, and lived together with those of other sects, did you confer full ordination upon her? From this time forward, I do not permit bhikkhunīs to confer full ordination upon one who has broken the precepts.

Thereupon the Buddha instructed Mahāpajāpatī to issue an order that all bhikkhunīs dwelling at Vesālī must assemble together, and that even those who had already heard this must hear it again:

—If a bhikkhunī, knowing that a certain person has broken the precepts, takes a key, opens the doors of another's room, and lives together with men, yet confers full ordination upon her, she commits a Pāyantika offense.

EXPLANATION:

Breaking the precepts: The precepts are incomplete; one has transgressed the precepts.

Taking a key and opening the door of a room: Opening the door of another person's room.

Men: Laypeople or those who have gone forth into other sects.

Living together: Dwelling in close proximity to one another. If one confers full ordination upon such a person, one commits a Pāyantika offense.

Pāyantika: As explained above. If that person is living together with laypeople or those of other sects, full ordination must not be conferred upon her. If it is possible to enable this person's pure conduct to be kept intact, one should first cause her to live separately and only then confer full ordination.

If a bhikkhu knows that a sāmaṇera has broken the precepts and is living in close association with women, yet does not cause him to return to lay life but instead confers full ordination upon him, he commits a Vinaya offense. Therefore the Blessed One spoke thus (as above).

Vietnamese translation: Thích Phước Sơn. MAHĀSĀṂGHIKA VINAYA

Chinese translation: TRIPIṬAKA BUDDHABHADRA OF INDIA

TOGETHER WITH ŚRAMAṆA FAXIAN, TRANSLATED DURING THE EASTERN JIN DYNASTY

VERIFICATION OF MEANING: THÍCH ĐỖNG MINH