Theravāda Collection on Monastic Law

The Nuns’ Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession

The subchapter on unmarried girls

The training rule on unmarried girls

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 unmarried girls less than twenty years old.

They were unable to endure cold and heat; hunger and thirst; contact with horseflies, mosquitoes, wind, the burning sun, and creeping animals and insects; rude and unwelcome speech;

and they were unable to bear up with bodily feelings that are painful, severe, sharp, and destructive of life.

The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them,

“How can nuns give the full admission to unmarried girls less than twelve years old?” …

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

“It’s true, Sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them …

“How can nuns do this?

An unmarried girl less than twenty years old is unable to endure cold and heat; hunger and thirst; contact with horseflies, mosquitoes, wind, the burning sun, and creeping animals and insects; rude and unwelcome speech;

and she’s unable to bear up with bodily feelings that are painful, severe, sharp, and destructive of life.

But an unmarried girl who is twenty years old is able to endure these things.

This will affect people’s confidence …” …

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

Final ruling

‘If a nun gives the full admission to an unmarried girl who is less than twenty years old, 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.

Who is less than twenty years old:

who has not reached twenty years of age.

An unmarried girl:

a novice nun is what is meant.

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 the girl is less than twenty years old, and the nun perceives her as less, and she gives her the full admission, she commits an offense entailing confession.

If the girl is less than twenty years old, but the nun is unsure of it, and she gives her the full admission, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the girl is less than twenty years old, but the nun perceives her as more, and she gives her the full admission, there is no offense.

If the girl is more than twenty years old, but the nun perceives her as less, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the girl is more than twenty years old, but the nun is unsure of it, she commits an offense of wrong conduct.

If the girl is more than twenty years old, and the nun perceives her as more, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense:

if she gives the full admission to a girl less than twenty years old, but she perceives her as more;

if she gives the full admission to a girl more than twenty years old, and she perceives her as more;

if she is insane;

if she is the first offender.

The first training rule is finished.