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

The Sutta on Granting Ordination in a Single Sangha

Background

This sutta belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, specifically in the Pātimokkha, the fundamental discipline. The rules on ordination are rules established by the Buddha to regulate the collective life of the monastic community. In the Buddha’s time, as the Sangha continued to develop, the matter of ordination procedure became extremely important in order to ensure the quality of those entering the monastic life.

The sutta “Granting Ordination in a Single Sangha” concerns the situation in which there is only one Sangha in a locality, with no other Sangha available to assist. This is a Buddhist legal question that must be handled according to clear principles in order to avoid errors in the process of entering the order.

Main Content

In the case where there is only one Sangha in a locality, the Buddha indicated that ordination may still be performed, but it must fully observe the required rituals and legal conditions. This has very important meaning: what is done in the presence of a lawful Sangha, even if it is the only one, is still recognized as valid throughout Buddhism.

Accordingly, the ordination procedure requires the participation of all the bhikkhus in that Sangha, with unanimous agreement (sammati). The person seeking ordination must be examined regarding age, health, legal status, whether they are a slave, in debt, or barred by lawful authority, and must have a preceptor or guide (nissaya-karaṇa), a virtuous bhikkhu responsible for guiding the new entrant into the order.

The Buddha’s instruction clearly emphasizes that even if there is only one Sangha, provided the procedure is properly followed, the ordination will be considered valid and not subject to later dispute or challenge.