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having received it with both hands, would place it on their head, on their crown; even so, indeed, I, Venerable Ananda, accept these eight grave rules, not to be transgressed throughout life." Then indeed the Venerable Ananda approached the Blessed One, having approached the Blessed One... saluted him and sat down to one side. Seated to one side, indeed, the venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: ‘‘Accepted, sir, by Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī are the eight important rules, the Blessed One's aunt has been fully ordained.’’ ‘‘If, Ānanda, women had not obtained in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata going forth from home to homelessness, then, Ānanda, the holy life would have lasted long, the True Dhamma would have stood for a thousand years. But since, Ānanda, women in the Dhamma and Discipline proclaimed by the Tathāgata have gone forth from home to homelessness, now, Ānanda, the holy life will not last long. Now, Ānanda, the True Dhamma will stand for only five hundred years. ‘‘Just as, Ānanda, any families that have many women and few men, are easily plundered by robbers and housebreakers; even so, Ānanda, in whatever Dhamma and Discipline women obtain going forth from home to homelessness, that holy life does not last long. ‘‘Just as, Ānanda, in a flourishing rice field, a disease called white blight falls upon it, then that rice field does not last long; even so, Ānanda, in whatever Dhamma and Discipline women obtain going forth from home to homelessness, that holy life does not last long. ‘‘Just as, Ānanda, in a flourishing sugarcane field, a disease called red blight falls upon it, then that sugarcane field does not last long; even so, Ānanda, in whatever Dhamma and Discipline women obtain going forth from home to homelessness, that holy life does not last long. ‘‘Just as, Ānanda, a man for a great reservoir would build a dike beforehand, so that the water might not overflow; even so, Ānanda, by me beforehand the eight important rules have been laid down for the bhikkhunīs, not to be transgressed throughout their lives. are not to be taken.” The eight weighty rules for bhikkhunīs are concluded. Authorization of Bhikkhunī Ordination 404. 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: “How, venerable sir, should I conduct myself with regard to these Sākiyan women?” Then the Blessed One instructed, exhorted, inspired, and gladdened Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī with a Dhamma talk. Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī, having been instructed, exhorted, inspired, and gladdened by the Blessed One with a Dhamma talk, paid homage to the Blessed One, circumambulated him, and departed. Then the Blessed One, on account of this matter, on account of this incident, gave a Dhamma talk and addressed the bhikkhus: “I authorize, bhikkhus, that bhikkhunīs are to be ordained by bhikkhus.” Then those bhikkhunīs said to Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī: “Venerable lady, you are not ordained, but we are ordained; for thus has it been laid down by the Blessed One that bhikkhunīs are to be ordained by bhikkhus.” Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī approached Venerable Ānanda. Having approached and paid homage to Venerable Ānanda, she stood to one side. Standing to one side, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī said to Venerable Ānanda: “Venerable Ānanda, these bhikkhunīs said to me: ‘Venerable lady, you are not ordained, but we are ordained; for thus has it been laid down by the Blessed One that bhikkhunīs are to be ordained by bhikkhus.’” Then Venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One. Having approached and paid homage to the Blessed One, he sat down to one side. Sitting to one side, Venerable Ānanda said to the Blessed One: “Venerable sir, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī said: ‘Venerable Ānanda, these bhikkhunīs said to me: “Venerable lady, you are not ordained, but we are ordained; for thus has it been laid down by the Blessed One By bhikkhus, bhikkhunis are to be ordained. From the moment, Ānanda, Mahāpajāpati Gotamī accepted the eight weighty rules, from that moment she is ordained. Then Mahāpajāpati Gotamī approached the venerable Ānanda. Having approached, she saluted the venerable Ānanda and stood to one side. Standing to one side, Mahāpajāpati Gotamī said this to the venerable Ānanda: ‘I, venerable Ānanda, ask the Blessed One for one boon. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would permit bhikkhus and bhikkhunis to salute, rise up for, perform añjali, and perform proper duties according to seniority.’ Then the venerable Ānanda approached the Blessed One. Having approached, he saluted the Blessed One and sat to one side. Sitting to one side, the venerable Ānanda said this to the Blessed One: ‘Venerable sir, Mahāpajāpati Gotamī said this: “I, venerable Ānanda, ask the Blessed One for one boon. It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would permit bhikkhus and bhikkhunis to salute, rise up for, perform añjali, and perform proper duties according to seniority.”’ This is impossible, Ānanda, there is no opportunity for the Tathāgata to permit women to salute, rise up for, perform añjali, or perform proper duties. Even these, Ānanda, other sectarians with ill-proclaimed doctrines will not permit women to salute, rise up for, perform añjali, or perform proper duties; how much less will the Tathāgata permit women to salute, rise up for, perform añjali, or perform proper duties? Then the Blessed One, on this occasion, on this matter, gave a Dhamma talk and addressed the bhikkhus: ‘Bhikkhus, women are not to be saluted, risen up for, given añjali, or shown proper duties. Whoever does so, commits an offense of wrong-doing.’ Then Mahāpajāpati Gotamī approached the Blessed One. Having approached, she saluted the Blessed One having saluted, stood to one side. Standing to one side, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī said to the Blessed One: "Those training rules, venerable sir, that are common to both bhikkhunīs and bhikkhus, how should we, venerable sir, practice in those training rules?" "Those training rules, Gotamī, that are common to both bhikkhunīs and bhikkhus, as the bhikkhus train, so should you train in those training rules." "But those training rules, venerable sir, that are not common to both bhikkhunīs and bhikkhus, how should we, venerable sir, practice in those training rules?" "Those training rules, Gotamī, that are not common to both bhikkhunīs and bhikkhus, as they are laid down, so should you train in those training rules." 406. Then Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī approached the Blessed One, and having approached and saluted the Blessed One, stood to one side. Standing to one side, Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī said to the Blessed One: "It would be good, venerable sir, if the Blessed One would teach me the Dhamma in brief, so that having heard the Dhamma from the Blessed One, I might dwell alone, withdrawn, diligent, ardent, and resolute." "Those things, Gotamī, that you would know: 'These things lead to passion, not to dispassion; to bondage, not to release; to accumulation, not to reduction; to great desires, not to few desires; to discontent, not to contentment; to company, not to solitude; to laziness, not to the arousal of energy; to being difficult to support, not to being easy to support'— of these, Gotamī, you may firmly hold: 'This is not the Dhamma, this is not the Vinaya, this is not the Teacher's instruction.' But those things, Gotamī, that you would know: 'These things lead to dispassion, not to passion; to release, not to bondage; to reduction, not to accumulation; to few desires, not to great desires; to contentment, they lead to dispassion, not to passion; they lead to seclusion, not to company; they lead to the arousal of energy, not to laziness; they lead to being easy to support, not to being difficult to support; definitively, Gotami, you should hold: ‘This is the Dhamma, this is the Vinaya, this is the Teacher’s instruction.’” 407. Now at that time, the Pātimokkha was not recited for the bhikkhunīs. They reported this matter to the Blessed One… “I allow, bhikkhus, the Pātimokkha to be recited for the bhikkhunīs.” Then it occurred to the bhikkhus: “By whom, now, should the Pātimokkha be recited for the bhikkhunīs?” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, bhikkhus, the Pātimokkha to be recited for the bhikkhunīs by bhikkhus.” Now at that time, bhikkhus would go to the bhikkhunīs’ residence and recite the Pātimokkha for the bhikkhunīs. People complained, grumbled, and criticized: “These are their wives, these are their mistresses! Now these will enjoy themselves with these!” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Bhikkhus, the Pātimokkha should not be recited for the bhikkhunīs by bhikkhus. Whoever recites it incurs an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, bhikkhus, the Pātimokkha to be recited for the bhikkhunīs by bhikkhunīs.” The bhikkhunīs did not know: “This is how the Pātimokkha should be recited.” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, bhikkhus, bhikkhus to instruct the bhikkhunīs: ‘This is how you should recite the Pātimokkha.’” 408. Now at that time, the bhikkhunīs did not make amends for offenses. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Bhikkhus, an offense should not go unamended by a bhikkhunī. If she does not amend it, she incurs an offense of wrong-doing.” The bhikkhunīs did not know: “This is how an offense should be amended.” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, bhikkhus, bhikkhus to instruct the bhikkhunīs: ‘This is how you should amend an offense.’” Then the bhikk It occurred to the monks: “By whom, pray, should the nuns’ offense be received?” They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “I allow, monks, that monks may receive the nuns’ offense.” Now at that time, nuns, seeing a monk on the road, at a crossroads, or at a junction, would put down their bowl on the ground,