Lzh Sarv Bi Vb Pc 124Ordaining Without Permission

EXPOSITION OF THE ANANUÑÑĀTA SUTTA (ORDINATION WITHOUT PROPER PERMISSION)

Background

The Ananuññāta Sutta is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, the section of rules for bhikkhunīs. The Vinaya Piṭaka gathers the disciplinary rules that the Buddha Gotama established for the monastic community (Saṃgha) in order to maintain purity, harmony, and spiritual development.

This sutta was recorded when the Bhikkhunī community was still young and did not yet have clear regulations concerning the ordination procedure. The Buddha discovered cases in which women wished to go forth but did not follow the official process, or in which problems arose from this, and therefore laid down this rule.

The term “Ananuññāta” (anuññāta = permitted, approved; a-anuññāta = not permitted, not approved) indicates actions performed without permission or recognition from the monastic community or senior bhikkhus.

Main Content

According to the principles of the Vinaya Piṭaka, a woman who wishes to go forth and become a bhikkhunī must pass through a strict process. First, she must be recognized by a bhikkhunī, or later must have approval from both the Bhikkhunī Sangha and the Bhikkhu Sangha. This process is called “Anuññāta,” official permission.

The Ananuññāta Sutta deals with violations of this principle: women who shave their heads, wear bhikkhunī robes without being recognized, or claim to be bhikkhunīs when in fact they have not been approved by the Sangha. This is regarded as a kind of Pācittiya, an offense requiring confession.

The Buddha emphasized that the reason for requiring permission is to:

(1) Protect the integrity of the monastery, ensuring that only those with sincere intentions enter the path;

(2) Prevent unsuitable women from entering the Sangha, where they might cause problems of ethics or discipline;

(3) Maintain harmony and order in the community.