1.0Origin story

1.1PTS 4.330Tena 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 paripuṇṇadvādasavassā saṅghena asammatā vuṭṭhāpenti.At that time nuns who had twelve years of seniority were giving the full admission without being approved by the Sangha.1.3Tā bālā honti abyattā;They were ignorant and incompetent,1.4na jānanti kappiyaṁ vā akappiyaṁ vā.and they did not know what was allowable and what was not.1.5Saddhivihāriniyopi bālā honti abyattā;And their students too were ignorant and incompetent,1.6na jānanti kappiyaṁ vā akappiyaṁ vā.and they too did not know what was allowable and what was not.

1.7Yā tā bhikkhuniyo appicchā …pe… tā ujjhāyanti khiyyanti vipācenti—The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,1.8“kathañhi nāma bhikkhuniyo paripuṇṇadvādasavassā saṅghena asammatā vuṭṭhāpessantī”ti …pe…“How can nuns who have twelve years of seniority give the full admission without being approved by the Sangha?” …1.9“saccaṁ kira, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo paripuṇṇadvādasavassā saṅghena asammatā 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 paripuṇṇadvādasavassā saṅghena asammatā 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, paripuṇṇadvādasavassāya bhikkhuniyā vuṭṭhāpanasammutiṁ dātuṁ.“Monks, approval is required for a nun who has twelve years of seniority to give the full admission.

1.17Evañca pana, bhikkhave, dātabbā.And the approval is to be given like this.

1.18Tāya paripuṇṇadvādasavassāya bhikkhuniyā saṅghaṁ upasaṅkamitvā ekaṁsaṁ uttarāsaṅgaṁ karitvā vuḍḍhānaṁ bhikkhunīnaṁ pāde vanditvā ukkuṭikaṁ nisīditvā añjaliṁ paggahetvā evamassa vacanīyo—After approaching the Sangha of nuns, that nun who has twelve years of seniority should arrange her upper robe over one shoulder and pay respect at the feet of the senior nuns. She should then squat on her heels, raise her joined palms, and say:

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

1.22Sā bhikkhunī saṅghena paricchinditabbā— ‘byattāyaṁ bhikkhunī lajjinī’ti.The Sangha should then decide whether that nun is competent and has a sense of conscience.

• 1.23Sace bālā ca hoti alajjinī ca, na dātabbā.If she is ignorant and shameless, approval should not be given.
• 1.24Sace bālā hoti lajjinī, na dātabbā.If she is ignorant but has a sense of conscience, approval should not be given.
• 1.25Sace byattā hoti alajjinī, na dātabbā.If she is competent but shameless, approval should not be given.
• 1.26Sace byattā ca hoti lajjinī ca, dātabbā.If she is competent and has a sense of conscience, approval should be given.

1.27Evañca pana, bhikkhave, dātabbā.And it is to be given like this.1.28Byattāya bhikkhuniyā paṭibalāya saṅgho ñāpetabbo—A competent and capable nun should inform the Sangha:

1.40Atha 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 …1.41evañca pana, bhikkhave, bhikkhuniyo imaṁ sikkhāpadaṁ uddisantu—“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this: