Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on pregnant women

The training rule on trainee nuns

Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery.

At that time the nuns were giving the full admission to trainee nuns who had not trained for two years in the six rules.

They were ignorant and incompetent, and did not know what was allowable and what was not.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“How can nuns give the full admission to trainee nuns who haven’t trained for two years in the six rules?” …

“Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?”

“It’s true, Sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them …

“How can nuns do this?

This will affect people’s confidence …”

After rebuking them …

he gave a teaching and addressed the monks:

“Monks, approval is required for a trainee nun to train in the six rules for two years.

And it should be given like this.

After approaching the Sangha of nuns, that trainee nun 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:

‘Venerables, I, so-and-so, am a trainee nun under Venerable so-and-so.

I ask the Sangha for approval to train for two years in the six rules.’

And she should ask a second

and a third time.

A competent and capable nun should then inform the Sangha:

‘Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.

So-and-so, who is a trainee nun under Venerable so-and-so, is asking the Sangha for approval to train in the six rules for two years.

If the Sangha is ready, it should give approval to trainee nun so-and-so to train in the six rules for two years.

This is the motion.

Please, Venerables, I ask the Sangha to listen.

So-and-so, who is a trainee nun under Venerable so-and-so, is asking the Sangha for approval to train in the six rules for two years.

The Sangha gives approval to trainee nun so-and-so to train in the six rules for two years.

Any nun who approves of giving approval to trainee nun so-and-so to train in the six rules for two years should remain silent.

Any nun who doesn’t approve should speak up.

The Sangha has given approval to trainee nun so-and-so to train in the six rules for two years.

The Sangha approves and is therefore silent. I’ll remember it thus.’

That trainee nun should then be told to say this:

‘I undertake to abstain from killing living beings for two years without transgression.

I undertake to abstain from stealing for two years without transgression.

I undertake to abstain from sexual activity for two years without transgression.

I undertake to abstain from lying for two years without transgression.

I undertake to abstain from alcohol, which causes heedlessness, for two years without transgression.

I undertake to abstain from eating at the wrong time for two years without transgression.’”

Then, after rebuking those nuns in many ways, the Buddha spoke in dispraise of being difficult to support …

“And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling

‘If a nun gives the full admission to a trainee nun who has not trained in the six rules for two years, she commits an offense entailing confession.’”

Definitions

A:

whoever …

Nun:

… 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.

Two years:

two twelve-month periods.

Who has not trained:

the training has not been given to her, or the training has been given to her, but she has failed in it.

Gives the full admission:

gives the full ordination.

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.

After the motion, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

After each of the first two announcements, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

When the last announcement is finished, the preceptor commits an offense entailing confession,

and the group and the teacher commit an offense of wrong conduct.

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.

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.

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.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she perceives it as legitimate, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, but she is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If it is an illegitimate legal procedure, and she perceives it as such, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if she gives the full admission to a trainee nun who has trained in the six rules for two years;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The third training rule is finished.