Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 106Giving Sikkhamānā to Maiden Under 18
Pāli / Sanskrit:Giving sikkhamānā to maiden under 18
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Explanation of the Sutta: Giving Sikkhamānā Status to a Girl Under 18
Background
This rule is recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, reflecting detailed regulations on the recruitment and management of female monastics (bhikkhunīs) in the early Buddhist Sangha. Sikkhamānā, meaning “one who trains in the precepts” or “probationary nun,” is an intermediate monastic status between lay life and full bhikkhunī ordination.
The context in which this rule arose came from the need to protect both the young female monastic herself and the purity of the Sangha. The Buddha and the senior disciples recognized that accepting girls who were too young, not yet physiologically and psychologically mature, could lead to difficulties in practice as well as affect the honor of the community. Therefore, a minimum age rule was established wisely and compassionately.
Main Content
The rule clearly states that the status of sikkhamānā is not to be given to any girl who has not yet reached 18 years of age. This rule is a necessary protective measure, not for discrimination or limitation, but to ensure that one entering the life of practice has reached a certain degree of physical, mental, and cognitive maturity.
According to the principle of the Vinaya Piṭaka, when an underage girl is discovered or reported, or when there is an intention to give sikkhamānā status to a girl under 18, that act is considered a violation and invalid. Those involved in giving the robe or in the formal act must bear responsibility according to the rule. In particular, if elder bhikkhunīs intentionally give sikkhamānā status to a girl who is underage, this act is regarded as an offense (Pāli: dukkaṭa), requiring confession and correction.
This rule is not applied merely mechanically, but is understood in the context of deeper ethical principles.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.