Lzh Mu Bi Vb Pc 122Not Ordaining Trainees After Promising
Pāli / Sanskrit:Cīvaradāna-sikkhamānana-vuṭṭhāpana
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Explanation of the Sutta: Not Ordaining a Female Trainee After Promising to Give a Robe
Background
The body of regulations of the Sangha (Saṅgha-dhammatā) in the Buddhist Vinaya Piṭaka lays down the things to be observed in order to maintain organizational discipline. The Cīvaradāna-sikkhamānana-vuṭṭhāpana Sutta belongs to the Pātimokkha, concerning the basic matters that members of the order must know in order to avoid violating the rules.
This sutta addresses an administrative issue within the Sangha concerning the selection of female trainees (sikkhamānās), the promise to provide them with robes (cīvara), and then the failure to formally ordain them into the order. This is an act that violates the spirit of honesty and commitment, creating injustice in the community of practice.
This background arises from the time when the Buddha was still present, when he established rules to protect the dignity of female practitioners. Promising but not fulfilling not only harms the spirituality of the individual, but also weakens trust and discipline in the Sangha.
Main Content
This rule prohibits responsible monastics from promising to provide food and robes for a sikkhamānā, women in the preparatory stage before seeking to become bhikkhunīs, and then failing to fulfill that promise.
Specifically, if a monastic has declared that they will provide robes or food for a sikkhamānā in order to support her process of practice, but then does not continue to provide for her, or what is called “not bringing to completion” (vuṭṭhāpana), not formally recognizing her status, that is a violation of the Pācittiya rule, a minor rule requiring repentance.
Pācittiya is a type of fault requiring self-disclosure to another monastic, accompanied by repentance. It is not as grave as a Pārājika, a fundamental defeat, but it must still be corrected in order to protect the spiritual life and dignity of the offender as well as the community.
The spirit of this rule is to emphasize the importance of honesty, commitment, and fairness.
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