Lzh Mi Bi Pm Pc 191Giving Ordination in Only One Sangha

Explanation of the Discourse: Giving Ordination in Only One Sangha

Background

This discourse belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka in the early Buddhist tradition, which preserves rules for governing the collective life of the renunciant community. During the development of the Buddhist Sangha, the question of the method for granting upasampadā, full ordination, became essential. As Buddhism spread into many regions, disputes arose concerning the validity of ordination ceremonies.

The regulation in this discourse reflects the need to ensure the unity and integrity of the process of admitting new trainees into the Sangha. It is a basic legal principle intended to protect the pure nature of the renunciant community, while also defining the boundaries of authority and responsibility of Sangha members in selecting those who possess the necessary qualifications.

Main Content

The discourse states that the conferral of upasampadā must be carried out before one single Sangha, not divided or conducted simultaneously in different places. This has deep significance: the Sangha is not merely a collection of individual practitioners, but an institution of integrity with inherent unity.

When a new trainee is presented before the Sangha, they must undergo comprehensive examination by all Sangha members present. This process ensures that no one is “concealed” and that no faults or deficiencies in the applicant’s training are overlooked. Each member of the Sangha has the opportunity to discern whether the person meets the standards and conditions.

Furthermore, this rule prevents “competition” or “division” in the process of selecting new trainees. If ordination were allowed to be given in many places at the same time under the supervision of different groups of Sangha members, disputes could easily arise concerning the legitimacy and validity of the one ordained. The condition of “only one Sangha” ensures transparency, fairness, and complete attestation.