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10. The Bhikkhunī Khandhaka 1. The First Recitation Section The Story of Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī At one time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling among the Sakyans in Kapilavatthu, in the Nigrodha Park. Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī approached the Blessed One. Having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, she stood to one side. Standing to one side, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī said to the Blessed One: “It would be good, Venerable Sir, if women could obtain the going forth from home into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.” “Enough, Gotamī, do not wish for women to obtain the going forth from home into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.” A second time… And a third time Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī said to the Blessed One: “It would be good, Venerable Sir, if women could obtain the going forth from home into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.” “Enough, Gotamī, do not wish for women to obtain the going forth from home into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.” Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, thinking: “The Blessed One does not permit women to obtain the going forth from home into homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata,” sorrowful, dejected, with tearful face, weeping, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and departed. Then the Blessed One, having stayed in Kapilavatthu as long as he wished, set out on tour towards Vesālī. Journeying by stages, he arrived at Vesālī. There the Blessed One dwelt in Vesālī, in the Great Wood, in the Gabled Hall. Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, having had her hair cut off and donned saffron robes, together with many Sakyan women, set out towards Vesālī. Journeying by stages, she approached Vesālī, the Great Wood, the Gabled Hall. Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, with swollen feet, with a body covered in dust, sorrowful, dejected, with tearful face, weeping, stood outside the porch. He stood at the gatehouse. Then Venerable Ānanda saw Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī with swollen feet, dust-covered body, sorrowful, dejected, tearful, weeping, standing outside the gatehouse. Seeing Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, he said this: ‘‘Why, Gotamī, are you standing outside the gatehouse with swollen feet, dust-covered body, sorrowful, dejected, tearful, weeping?’’ ‘‘Because, Venerable Ānanda, the Blessed One does not permit women to go forth from home to homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.’’ ‘‘Then, Gotamī, wait here for a moment, while I ask the Blessed One to permit women to go forth from home to homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.’’ Then Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One, and having approached, he bowed to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: ‘‘Venerable Sir, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī is there, with swollen feet, dust-covered body, sorrowful, dejected, tearful, weeping, standing outside the gatehouse – because the Blessed One does not permit women to go forth from home to homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata. It would be good, Venerable Sir, if women could go forth from home to homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.’’ ‘‘Enough, Ānanda! Do not be pleased with the going forth of women from home to homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.’’ A second time… and a third time, Venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: ‘‘It would be good, Venerable Sir, if women could go forth from home to homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.’’ ‘‘Enough, Ānanda! Do not be pleased with the going forth of women from home to homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.’’ Then Venerable Ānanda ‘‘Not the Blessed One... or allows women to go forth from home to homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata. What if I were to entreat the Blessed One in another way for women to go forth from home to homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata?” Then the Venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: “Is it possible, Lord, for women, having gone forth from home to homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, to realize the fruit of stream-entry, or the fruit of once-returning, or the fruit of non-returning, or the fruit of arahantship?” “It is possible, Ānanda, for women, having gone forth from home to homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, to realize the fruit of stream-entry, the fruit of once-returning, the fruit of non-returning, the fruit of arahantship.” “If, Lord, it is possible for women, having gone forth from home to homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata, to realize the fruit of stream-entry, the fruit of once-returning, the fruit of non-returning, the fruit of arahantship; then, Lord, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī has been of great service to the Blessed One, she is the aunt, the foster-mother, the giver of milk, who suckled the Blessed One when his mother passed away. It would be good, Lord, if women might obtain going forth from home to homelessness in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata.” The Eight Garudhammas “If, Ānanda, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī accepts the eight Garudhammas, that shall be her full ordination.” A bhikkhunī, even one ordained for a hundred years, must salute, rise up for, do añjali, and perform proper duties towards a bhikkhu ordained on that very day. This rule is to be honored, respected, revered, and worshipped, and not to be transgressed throughout life. A bhikkhunī must not spend the rainy season in a residence where there are no bhikkhus. This rule is to be honored, respected, revered, and worshipped, and not to be transgressed throughout life. Every half-month, a bhikkhunī must seek from the Saṅgha of bhikkhus These two things are to be sought: asking about the Uposatha, and approaching for advice. This rule, having been respected, revered, honored, and worshipped, is not to be transgressed throughout life. A nun, having completed the rains retreat, should invite criticism from both Sanghas in three ways: by what was seen, or by what was heard, or by what was suspected. This rule, having been respected, revered, honored, and worshipped, is not to be transgressed throughout life. A nun who has transgressed a grave rule must undergo a half-month penance in both Sanghas. This rule, having been respected, revered, honored, and worshipped, is not to be transgressed throughout life. A female trainee, having trained for two years in the six rules, should seek ordination from both Sanghas. This rule, having been respected, revered, honored, and worshipped, is not to be transgressed throughout life. A nun should not, by any means, insult or abuse a monk. This rule, having been respected, revered, honored, and worshipped, is not to be transgressed throughout life. From today onwards, the nuns' path of speech towards monks is closed; the monks' path of speech towards nuns is not closed. This rule, having been respected, revered, honored, and worshipped, is not to be transgressed throughout life. "If, Ānanda, Mahāpajāpati Gotamī accepts these eight grave rules, then let that be her ordination." Then Venerable Ānanda, having learned the eight grave rules from the Blessed One, approached Mahāpajāpati Gotamī. Having approached, he said to Mahāpajāpati Gotamī: "If, Gotamī, you would accept the eight grave rules, then that will be your ordination." A nun ordained for a hundred years must pay homage, rise up, salute with joined hands, and perform proper courtesy to a monk ordained on that very day. This rule, having been respected, revered, honored, and worshipped, is not to be transgressed throughout life. A nun should not spend the rains retreat in a residence where there are no monks. This rule having respected, having revered, having honored, having worshipped, not to be transgressed throughout life. "Every half-month, a nun is to expect two things from the community of monks: the asking for the Uposatha, and the approaching for instruction. This rule also, having respected, having revered, having honored, having worshipped, is not to be transgressed throughout life. "A nun who has completed the rains retreat is to make the Pavāraṇā in both communities by three ways: by what was seen, or by what was heard, or by what was suspected. This rule also, having respected, having revered, having honored, having worshipped, is not to be transgressed throughout life. "By a nun who has transgressed a grave rule, a fortnight's Mānatta is to be undergone in both communities. This rule also, having respected, having revered, having honored, having worshipped, is not to be transgressed throughout life. "For two years, by a probationer who has trained well in the six rules, ordination is to be sought in both communities. This rule also, having respected, having revered, having honored, having worshipped, is not to be transgressed throughout life. "By a nun, by no means whatsoever, is a monk to be reviled or abused. This rule also, having respected, having revered, having honored, having worshipped, is not to be transgressed throughout life. "From today onwards, the path of speech for nuns towards monks is closed; the path of speech for monks towards nuns is not closed. This rule also, having respected, having revered, having honored, having worshipped, is not to be transgressed throughout life. "If indeed you, Gotami, were to accept these eight grave rules, that would be your ordination." "Just as, Venerable Ananda, a woman or a man, young, youthful, fond of adornment, having bathed their head, having obtained a garland of blue lotuses, or a garland of jasmine, or a garland of great jasmine,