San Mu Bu Pm GBM 2 Pc 72Ordaining Under Twenty
Pāli / Sanskrit:Ūnavīsativassa
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Explanation of the Ūnavīsativassa Discourse (Ordaining Under Twenty)
Background
The Ūnavīsativassa discourse is found in the Vinaya Piṭaka, specifically in the Pātimokkha with the Pācittiya rules. These are rules that protect the ethics of the Buddhist Sangha, recorded in the Sutta-vibhaṅga, the detailed explanatory section of the Vinaya.
The discourse was formed in the early period of the Sangha community, when the Buddha was still alive. The context arose from specific situations occurring in the community of bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs, from which the Buddha established rules to discipline the mind, protect the reputation of the Sangha community, and guide disciples according to the path of pure practice.
The rule on "training under twenty years of age" (Ūnavīsativassa) is directly related to the legal age for going forth and receiving formal full ordination (Upasampada).
Main Content
According to the early Vinaya, a person who wishes to go forth must satisfy many conditions. One of the most basic conditions is age. The Ūnavīsativassa discourse prescribes that a person must be fully twenty years old or older before being permitted to receive Upasampada, the full and solemn ordination of a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī.
If a person under twenty wishes to go forth, they may be allowed to do so under the status of "sāmaṇera," that is, a novice or young male renunciant, or "sāmaṇerī," a female novice. These persons observe the ten precepts (Dasasīla) but have not yet received the full precepts of a bhikkhu or bhikkhunī.
If a bhikkhu, a practitioner under twenty, is granted Upasampada before reaching the proper age, or if the community accepts the ordination of someone under twenty without full confirmation, this is considered a violation of the rules (Pācittiya). The bhikkhus or bhikkhunīs involved in allowing this must confess the fault before the Sangha community.
This regulation is not only an administrative requirement but also carries deep meaning concerning psychological and spiritual maturity.
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