Xct Mu Bi Pc 80Ordaining Untrained Candidate
Pāli / Sanskrit:Asikkhita-sikkhamānā
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SUTRA ESTABLISHING THE CASE OF AN UNTRAINED BHIKKHUNĪ CANDIDATE
Background
The Asikkhita-sikkhamānā Sutra belongs to the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Theravāda tradition, specifically the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha, the code of restraint for bhikkhunīs. This is one of the legislative texts from the Buddha intended to regulate and protect the purity of the Sangha during its early formation.
The background arose from particular cases in the community of bhikkhunīs. In the Buddha's time, there were women who wished to go forth but were not yet sufficiently mature psychologically and ethically, or had not been properly trained in the scriptures and the duties of a monastic. To protect the true Dharma and maintain the discipline of the Sangha, the Buddha established the rule concerning the stage of sikkhamānā, a female probationer, a required period of training and study before formally receiving the Bhikkhunī precepts. This sutra specifically stipulates that a woman who has not completed this training period may not proceed directly into full bhikkhunī status.
Main Content
The sutra clearly states that conferring Bhikkhunī ordination upon an untrained female candidate (asikkhita-sikkhamānā) is a violation of the rule. A female probationer must pass through a certain period of time, traditionally often two years, in order to study the Dharma, train her character, practice meditation, and master the basic duties of one gone forth.
During this process, the sikkhamānā must follow a separate set of rules, consisting of six or eight major points depending on the school, chiefly related to maintaining the precepts, respecting senior bhikkhunīs, and being diligent in the study of the Dharma. Only after completing this stage can qualified candidates be officially permitted by the Sangha to receive Bhikkhunī ordination.
This regulation is intended to ensure that one who joins the Sangha is ready in purity of mind and strength of will, and is not acting out of temporary emotion or external pressure.
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