Bi Pc 6262. Ordaining a breastfeeding woman
Pāli / Sanskrit:Pāyantī
A nun who ordains a woman who is breastfeeding must confess the offense.
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Explanation of the Bi Pc 62 Rule: Ordaining a Breastfeeding Woman
Background
This rule originates from situations within the community of female monastics (bhikkhunī Sangha) during the time of the Buddha. Pāyantī — a term referring to a woman who is breastfeeding — is regulated in the Pātimokkha (the code of monastic rules), specifically within the Bhikkhunī Vibhanga (the monastic code for nuns). In the early years of the Dharma, when the community of nuns was first established, there was still much debate concerning the appropriate conditions for accepting those who wished to take ordination.
According to the Vinaya of the Theravāda tradition, the higher ordination (upasampadā) — the formal reception of full ordination — involves a lengthy process of preparation. Before attaining the status of a fully ordained nun, a candidate must pass through various stages: that of a novice (sāmaṇerī) before proceeding to full ordination. Health conditions and personal circumstances are important factors that are taken into consideration.
The Bi Pc 62 rule addresses a particular case: that of a bhikkhunī conferring ordination upon a woman who is currently breastfeeding. This is not an absolute prohibition, but rather a transgression (pācittiya) — that is, an ethical fault requiring confession and expiation. The purpose of this rule is to protect the health of both the mother and her child, and at the same time to safeguard the integrity of the candidate's training.
Main Content
According to the Bhikkhunī Pātimokkha (the code of rules for nuns), the regulation is as follows: If a bhikkhunī confers ordination upon a woman who is still in the period of breastfeeding — meaning the child still depends upon the mother's milk for sustenance — without thorough preparation or without adequately considering the circumstances, that bhikkhunī must confess her fault before the Sangha (a pācittiya offense).
This does not mean that women who are breastfeeding are absolutely prohibited from taking ordination. Rather, the rule emphasizes that the bhikkhunī conferring ordination must exercise care and careful deliberation. If the woman has fully ceased breastfeeding, or if suitable arrangements have been made for the care of the child, then the ordination may proceed.
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