- Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law Theravāda Vinaya
- The Nuns’ Analysis Bhikkhunivibhaṅga
- The chapter on offenses entailing confession Pācittiyakaṇḍa
- The subchapter on unmarried girls Kumāribhūtavagga
The third training rule on unmarried girls 73. Tatiyakumāribhūtasikkhāpada
Origin story
At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme. At that time the nuns were giving the full admission to unmarried girls who were more than twenty years old and who had trained in the six rules for two years, but who had not been approved by the Sangha. Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo paripuṇṇavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpenti. The nuns said this: Bhikkhuniyo evamāhaṁsu—“Come, trainee nuns, find out about this,” “Give this,” “Bring this,” “There’s need for this,” or “Make this allowable.” “etha, sikkhamānā, imaṁ jānātha, imaṁ detha, imaṁ āharatha, iminā attho, imaṁ kappiyaṁ karothā”ti. But they replied, Tā evamāhaṁsu—“Venerables, we’re not trainee nuns. We’re nuns.” “na mayaṁ, ayye, sikkhamānā, bhikkhuniyo mayan”ti.
The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—“How can nuns give the full admission to unmarried girls who are more than twenty years old and who have trained for two years in the six rules, but who haven’t been approved by the Sangha?” … “kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo paripuṇṇavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti …pe… “Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?” “saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo paripuṇṇavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpentī”ti?
“It’s true, Sir.” “Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.
The Buddha rebuked them … Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe… “How can nuns do this? kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo paripuṇṇavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpessanti. This will affect people’s confidence …” Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe… After rebuking them … vigarahitvā …pe… he gave a teaching and addressed the monks: dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—
“Monks, approval is required for the full admission of an unmarried girl who is more than twenty years old and who has trained for two years in the six rules. “anujānāmi, bhikkhave, paripuṇṇavīsativassāya kumāribhūtāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ dātuṁ.
And the approval is to be given like this. Evañca pana, bhikkhave, dātabbā.
After approaching the Sangha of nuns, that unmarried girl who is more than twenty years old should arrange her upper robe over one shoulder and pay respect at the feet of the nuns. She should then squat on her heels, raise her joined palms, and say: Tāya paripuṇṇavīsativassāya kumāribhūtāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya saṅghaṁ upasaṅkamitvā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā bhikkhunīnaṁ pāde vanditvā ukkuṭikaṁ nisīditvā añjaliṁ paggahetvā evamassa vacanīyo—
‘Venerables, I, the unmarried girl so-and-so, who is more than twenty years old and who has trained for two years in the six rules under Venerable so-and-so, ask the Sangha for approval to be fully admitted.’ ‘ahaṁ, ayye, itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya paripuṇṇavīsativassā kumāribhūtā dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhā saṅghaṁ vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ yācāmī’ti.
And she should ask a second Dutiyampi yācitabbā. and a third time. Tatiyampi yācitabbā.
A competent and capable nun should then inform the Sangha: Byattāya bhikkhuniyā paṭibalāya saṅgho ñāpetabbo—
‘Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. ‘Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho. This unmarried girl so-and-so, who is more than twenty years old and who has trained for two years in the six rules under Venerable so-and-so, is asking the Sangha for approval to be fully admitted. Ayaṁ itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya paripuṇṇavīsativassā kumāribhūtā dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhā saṅghaṁ vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ yācati. If the Sangha is ready, it should give approval for the unmarried girl so-and-so, who is more than twenty years old and who has trained for two years in the six rules under Venerable so-and-so, to be fully admitted. Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ saṅgho itthannāmāya paripuṇṇavīsativassāya kumāribhūtāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ dadeyya. This is the motion. Esā ñatti.
Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen. Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho. This unmarried girl so-and-so, who is more than twenty years old and who has trained for two years in the six rules under Venerable so-and-so, is asking the Sangha for approval to be fully admitted. Ayaṁ itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya paripuṇṇavīsativassā kumāribhūtā dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhā saṅghaṁ vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ yācati. The Sangha gives approval for the unmarried girl so-and-so, who is more than twenty years old and who has trained for two years in the six rules under Venerable so-and-so, to be fully admitted. Saṅgho itthannāmāya paripuṇṇavīsativassāya kumāribhūtāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ deti. Any nun who approves of giving approval for the unmarried girl so-and-so, who is more than twenty years old and who has trained for two years in the six rules under Venerable so-and-so, to be fully admitted should remain silent. Yassā ayyāya khamati itthannāmāya paripuṇṇavīsativassāya kumāribhūtāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya vuṭṭhānasammutiyā dānaṁ, sā tuṇhassa; Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up. yassā nakkhamati, sā bhāseyya.
The Sangha has given approval for the unmarried girl so-and-so, who is more than twenty years old and who has trained for two years in the six rules under Venerable so-and-so, to be fully admitted. Dinnā saṅghena itthannāmāya paripuṇṇavīsativassāya kumāribhūtāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya vuṭṭhānasammuti. The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.’” Khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmī’”ti.
Then, after rebuking those nuns in many ways, the Buddha spoke in dispraise of being difficult to support … Atha kho bhagavā tā bhikkhuniyo anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā dubbharatāya …pe… “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—
Final ruling
‘If a nun gives the full admission to an unmarried girl who is more than twenty years old and who has trained for two years in the six rules, but who has not been approved by the Sangha, she commits an offense entailing confession.’” “Yā pana bhikkhunī paripuṇṇavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpeyya, pācittiyan”ti.
Definitions
- A: Yā panāti
- whoever … yā yādisā …pe…
- Nun: bhikkhunīti
- … The nun who has been given the full ordination in unanimity by both Sanghas through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of nun is meant in this case. …pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā bhikkhunīti.
- Who is more than twenty years old: Paripuṇṇavīsativassā nāma
- who has reached twenty years of age. pattavīsativassā.
- An unmarried girl: Kumāribhūtā nāma
- a novice nun is what is meant. sāmaṇerī vuccati.
- Two years: Dve vassānīti
- two twelve-month periods. dve saṁvaccharāni.
- Who has trained: Sikkhitasikkhā nāma
- who has trained in the six rules. chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhā.
- Who has not been approved: Asammatā nāma
- approval to be fully admitted has not been given though a legal procedure consisting of one motion and one announcement. ñattidutiyena kammena vuṭṭhānasammuti na dinnā hoti.
- Gives the full admission: Vuṭṭhāpeyyāti
- gives the full ordination. upasampādeyya. If, intending to give the full admission, she searches for a group, a teacher, a bowl, or a robe, or she establishes a monastery zone, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. “Vuṭṭhāpessāmī”ti gaṇaṁ vā ācariniṁ vā pattaṁ vā cīvaraṁ vā pariyesati, sīmaṁ vā sammannati, āpatti dukkaṭassa. After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ. After each of the first two announcements, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Dvīhi kammavācāhi dukkaṭā. When the last announcement is finished, the preceptor commits an offense entailing confession, Kammavācāpariyosāne upajjhāyāya āpatti pācittiyassa. and the group and the teacher commit an offense of wrong conduct. Gaṇassa ca ācariniyā ca āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Permutations
If it is a legitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, and she gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, and she gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dhammakamme vematikā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa. If it is a legitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as illegitimate, and she gives the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession. Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.
If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa. If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct. Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.
Non-offenses
There is no offense: Anāpatti—if she gives the full admission to an unmarried girl who is more than twenty years old, who has trained in the six rules for two years, and who has been approved by the Sangha; paripuṇṇavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ saṅghena sammataṁ vuṭṭhāpeti, if she is insane; ummattikāya, if she is the first offender. ādikammikāyāti.
The third training rule is finished. Tatiyasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.