0.1Theravāda VinayaTheravāda Collection on Monastic Law
0.2BhikkhunivibhaṅgaThe Nuns’ Analysis
0.3PācittiyakaṇḍaThe chapter on offenses entailing confession
0.4KumāribhūtavaggaThe subchapter on unmarried women

0.573. TatiyakumāribhūtasikkhāpadaOrdaining a trained unmarried woman without approval

1.0Origin story

1.1Tena samayena buddho bhagavā sāvatthiyaṁ viharati jetavane anāthapiṇḍikassa ārāme.At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.1.2Tena kho pana samayena bhikkhuniyo paripuṇṇavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpenti.At that time the nuns were giving the full admission to unmarried women who were more than twenty years old and who had trained for two years in the six rules, but who had not been approved by the Sangha.1.3Bhikkhuniyo evamāhaṁsu—The nuns said,1.4“etha, sikkhamānā, imaṁ jānātha, imaṁ detha, imaṁ āharatha, iminā attho, imaṁ kappiyaṁ karothā”ti.“Come, trainee nuns, find out about this,” “Give this,” “Bring this,” “There’s need for this,” or “Make this allowable.”1.5Tā evamāhaṁsu—But they replied,1.6“na mayaṁ, ayye, sikkhamānā, bhikkhuniyo mayan”ti.“Venerables, we’re not trainee nuns. We’re nuns.”

1.7Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,1.8“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo paripuṇṇavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti …pe…“How can nuns give the full admission to unmarried women 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?” …1.9“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo paripuṇṇavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpentī”ti?“Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?”

1.10“Saccaṁ, bhagavā”ti.“It’s true, sir.”

1.11Vigarahi buddho bhagavā …pe…The Buddha rebuked them …1.12kathañhi nāma, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo paripuṇṇavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpessanti.“How can nuns do this?1.13Netaṁ, bhikkhave, appasannānaṁ vā pasādāya …pe…This will affect people’s confidence …”1.14vigarahitvā …pe…After rebuking them …1.15dhammiṁ kathaṁ katvā bhikkhū āmantesi—he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

1.16“anujānāmi, bhikkhave, paripuṇṇavīsativassāya kumāribhūtāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ dātuṁ.“Monks, approval is required for the full admission of an unmarried woman who is more than twenty years old and who has trained for two years in the six rules.

1.17Evañca pana, bhikkhave, dātabbā.And it should be given like this.

1.18Tāya paripuṇṇavīsativassāya kumāribhūtāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya saṅghaṁ upasaṅkamitvā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā bhikkhunīnaṁ pāde vanditvā ukkuṭikaṁ nisīditvā añjaliṁ paggahetvā evamassa vacanīyo—After approaching the Sangha of nuns, that unmarried woman 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:

1.19‘ahaṁ, ayye, itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya paripuṇṇavīsativassā kumāribhūtā dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhā saṅghaṁ vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ yācāmī’ti.‘Venerables, I, the unmarried woman 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.’

1.20Dutiyampi yācitabbā.And she should ask a second1.21Tatiyampi yācitabbā.and a third time.

1.22Byattāya bhikkhuniyā paṭibalāya saṅgho ñāpetabbo—A competent and capable nun should then inform the Sangha:

1.23‘Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho.‘Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.1.24Ayaṁ itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya paripuṇṇavīsativassā kumāribhūtā dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhā saṅghaṁ vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ yācati.The unmarried woman 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.1.25Yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṁ saṅgho itthannāmāya paripuṇṇavīsativassāya kumāribhūtāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ dadeyya.If the Sangha is ready, it should give approval for the unmarried woman 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.1.26Esā ñatti.This is the motion.

1.27Suṇātu me, ayye, saṅgho.Please, venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.1.28Ayaṁ itthannāmā itthannāmāya ayyāya paripuṇṇavīsativassā kumāribhūtā dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhā saṅghaṁ vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ yācati.The unmarried woman 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.1.29Saṅgho itthannāmāya paripuṇṇavīsativassāya kumāribhūtāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya vuṭṭhānasammutiṁ deti.The Sangha gives approval for the unmarried woman 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.1.30Yassā ayyāya khamati itthannāmāya paripuṇṇavīsativassāya kumāribhūtāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya vuṭṭhānasammutiyā dānaṁ, sā tuṇhassa;Any nun who approves of giving approval for the unmarried woman 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.1.31yassā nakkhamati, sā bhāseyya.Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up.

1.32Dinnā saṅghena itthannāmāya paripuṇṇavīsativassāya kumāribhūtāya dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhāya vuṭṭhānasammuti.The Sangha has given approval for the unmarried woman 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.1.33Khamati saṅghassa, tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṁ dhārayāmī’”ti.The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I will remember it thus.’”

1.34Atha kho bhagavā tā bhikkhuniyo anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā dubbharatāya …pe…Then, after rebuking those nuns in many ways, the Buddha spoke in dispraise of being difficult to support …1.35evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

1.36.0Final ruling

1.36.1“Yā pana bhikkhunī paripuṇṇavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ saṅghena asammataṁ vuṭṭhāpeyya, pācittiyan”ti.‘If a nun gives the full admission to an unmarried woman 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.’”

2.0Definitions

2.1PTS 4.329Yā panātiA:: 2.2yā yādisā …pe…whoever …
2.3bhikkhunītiNun:: 2.4…pe… ayaṁ imasmiṁ atthe adhippetā 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.
2.5Paripuṇṇavīsativassā nāmaWho is more than twenty years old:: 2.6pattavīsativassā.who has reached twenty years of age.
2.7Kumāribhūtā nāmaAn unmarried woman:: 2.8sāmaṇerī vuccati.a novice nun is what is meant.
2.9Dve vassānītiTwo years:: 2.10dve saṁvaccharāni.two twelve-month periods.
2.11Sikkhitasikkhā nāmaWho has trained:: 2.12chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhā.who has trained in the six rules.
2.13Asammatā nāmaWho has not been approved:: 2.14ñattidutiyena kammena vuṭṭhānasammuti na dinnā hoti.approval to be fully admitted has not been given through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and one announcement.
2.15VuṭṭhāpeyyātiGives the full admission:: 2.16upasampādeyya.gives the full ordination.2.17“Vuṭṭhāpessāmī”ti gaṇaṁ vā ācariniṁ vā pattaṁ vā cīvaraṁ vā pariyesati, sīmaṁ vā sammannati, āpatti dukkaṭassa.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.2.18Ñattiyā dukkaṭaṁ.After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.¹2.19Dvīhi kammavācāhi dukkaṭā.After each of the first two announcements, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.20Kammavācāpariyosāne upajjhāyāya āpatti pācittiyassa.When the last announcement is finished, the preceptor commits an offense entailing confession,2.21Gaṇassa ca ācariniyā ca āpatti dukkaṭassa.and the group and the teacher commit an offense of wrong conduct.

2.22.0Permutations

2.22.1Dhammakamme dhammakammasaññā vuṭṭhāpeti, āpatti pācittiyassa.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.2.23Dhammakamme vematikā 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.2.24Dhammakamme adhammakammasaññā 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.

2.25Adhammakamme dhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.26Adhammakamme vematikā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.2.27Adhammakamme adhammakammasaññā, āpatti dukkaṭassa.If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

2.28.0Non-offenses

2.28.1Anāpatti—There is no offense:2.29paripuṇṇavīsativassaṁ kumāribhūtaṁ dve vassāni chasu dhammesu sikkhitasikkhaṁ saṅghena sammataṁ vuṭṭhāpeti,if she gives the full admission to an unmarried woman who is more than twenty years old, who has trained for two years in the six rules, and who has been approved by the Sangha; 2.30ummattikāya,if she is insane; 2.31ādikammikāyāti.if she is the first offender.

2.32Tatiyasikkhāpadaṁ niṭṭhitaṁ.The third training rule is finished.

73. Ordaining a trained unmarried woman without approval