English
They reported this matter to the Blessed One. “Monks, an unapproved one should not instruct. If she instructs, there is an offense of wrong-doing. I allow, monks, an approved one to instruct. And thus, monks, she should be approved – either one should approve oneself, or another should approve another. “And how should one approve oneself? A competent and capable bhikkhunī should inform the Saṅgha: ‘May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, listen to me. So-and-so is a candidate for ordination for venerable so-and-so. If it is suitable for the Saṅgha, I, so-and-so, would instruct so-and-so.’ Thus should one approve oneself. “And how should another approve another? A competent and capable bhikkhunī should inform the Saṅgha: ‘May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, listen to me. So-and-so is a candidate for ordination for venerable so-and-so. If it is suitable for the Saṅgha, so-and-so would instruct so-and-so.’ Thus should another approve another. “That approved bhikkhunī, having approached the candidate for ordination, should say this to her: ‘Listen, so-and-so. This is your time of truth, your time of reality. What has occurred, when asked in the midst of the Saṅgha, if it exists, should be said to exist; if it does not exist, should be said not to exist. Do not be flustered, do not be embarrassed. They will question you thus: Are you not without a mark? Are you not merely marked? Are you not without blood? Are you not with constant blood? Are you not with constant cloth? Are you not dripping? Are you not with a peak? Are you not an hermaphrodite? Are you not a virile woman? Are you not with confused gender? Are you not with both characteristics? Do you have such diseases as: leprosy, boils, eczema, consumption, epilepsy? Are you a human being? Are you a woman? Are you free? Are you debtless? Are you not a royal servant? Are you permitted by your parents, by your husband? Are you fully twenty years old? Is your bowl and robe complete? What is your name? What is your preceptor's name? They come together. They should not come together. The instructress should come first and inform the Saṅgha: ‘May the Saṅgha, ladies, listen to me. So-and-so is an aspirant for ordination under the lady so-and-so. She has been instructed by me. If it is suitable for the Saṅgha, let so-and-so come.’ She should be told: ‘Come!’ Having had her arrange her upper robe over one shoulder, having had her pay homage at the feet of the bhikkhunīs, having had her squat down, having had her raise her hands in añjali, she should be made to request ordination: ‘Ladies, I request ordination from the Saṅgha. May the Saṅgha, ladies, uplift me out of compassion. A second time, ladies, I request ordination from the Saṅgha. May the Saṅgha, ladies, uplift me out of compassion. A third time, ladies, I request ordination from the Saṅgha. May the Saṅgha, ladies, uplift me out of compassion.’ By a competent and able bhikkhunī, the Saṅgha should be informed: ‘May the Saṅgha, ladies, listen to me. This so-and-so is an aspirant for ordination under the lady so-and-so. If it is suitable for the Saṅgha, I shall question so-and-so about the obstructing factors.’ ‘Listen, so-and-so. This is your time for truth, your time for reality. What has occurred, that I ask. What is present, should be said to be present. What is not present, should be said to be not present. Are you not a person with an indeterminate sex? ... (etc.) ... What is your name? What is your preceptor's name?’ By a competent and able bhikkhunī, the Saṅgha should be informed: ‘May the Saṅgha, ladies, listen to me. This so-and-so is an aspirant for ordination under the lady so-and-so. She is pure concerning the obstructing factors. Her bowl and robe are complete. So-and-so requests ordination from the Saṅgha, with the lady so-and-so as her preceptor. If it is suitable for the Saṅgha, the Saṅgha should ordain so-and-so, with the lady so-and-so as her preceptor. This is the motion. ‘May the Saṅgha, ladies, listen to me. This so-and-so... The venerable (named) such-and-such is a candidate for ordination. She is pure from obstructive states, her bowl and robes are complete. Such-and-such asks the Sangha for ordination, with the venerable (named) such-and-such as her preceptor. The Sangha ordains such-and-such, with the venerable (named) such-and-such as her preceptor. To whichever venerable one approves of the ordination of such-and-such, with the venerable (named) such-and-such as her preceptor, she should remain silent; whoever does not approve, she should speak. "For a second time I speak on this matter... ...for a third time I speak on this matter – Venerable ones, may the Sangha listen to me. This such-and-such is a candidate for ordination, with the venerable (named) such-and-such as her preceptor. She is pure from obstructive states, her bowl and robes are complete. Such-and-such asks the Sangha for ordination, with the venerable (named) such-and-such as her preceptor. The Sangha ordains such-and-such, with the venerable (named) such-and-such as her preceptor. To whichever venerable one approves of the ordination of such-and-such, with the venerable (named) such-and-such as her preceptor, she should remain silent; whoever does not approve, she should speak. "Such-and-such is ordained by the Sangha, with the venerable (named) such-and-such as her preceptor. The Sangha approves, therefore it is silent. Thus I hold this to be." "At that very moment, taking her, having approached the Bhikkhu Sangha, having had her arrange her upper robe over one shoulder, having had her bow at the feet of the bhikkhus, having had her squat down, having had her raise her hands in añjali, she should be made to request ordination – ‘Venerable sirs, I, such-and-such, am a candidate for ordination, with the venerable (named) such-and-such as my preceptor. I have been ordained once in the Bhikkhuni Sangha, I am pure; Venerable sirs, I ask the Sangha for ordination. May the Sangha, venerable sirs, lift me up out of compassion. Venerable sirs, I, such-and-such, am a candidate for ordination, with the venerable (named) such-and-such as my preceptor. I have been ordained once in the Bhikkhuni Sangha, I am pure. For a second time, venerable sirs, I ask the Sangha for ordination. May the Sangha, venerable sirs, lift me up out of compassion. Venerable sirs, I, such-and-such, am a candidate for ordination, with the venerable (named) such-and-such as my preceptor. I have been ordained once in the Bhikkhuni Sangha..." O, pure one. For the third time, venerable sirs, I ask the Saṅgha for ordination. May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, lift me up out of compassion. By a competent and capable bhikkhu, the Saṅgha should be informed – May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, listen to me. This person of such-and-such a name, with such-and-such a name as her preceptor, seeks ordination. She has been ordained once in the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha, she is pure. This person of such-and-such a name asks the Saṅgha for ordination, with such-and-such a name as her preceptor. If it is agreeable to the Saṅgha, may the Saṅgha ordain this person of such-and-such a name, with such-and-such a name as her preceptor. This is the motion. May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, listen to me. This person of such-and-such a name, with such-and-such a name as her preceptor, seeks ordination. She has been ordained once in the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha, she is pure. The Saṅgha ordains this person of such-and-such a name, with such-and-such a name as her preceptor. To whichever venerable one the ordination of this person of such-and-such a name, with such-and-such a name as her preceptor, is agreeable, let him be silent; to whom it is not agreeable, let him speak. For the second time I say this matter… For the third time I say this matter – May the Saṅgha, venerable sirs, listen to me. This person of such-and-such a name, with such-and-such a name as her preceptor, seeks ordination. She has been ordained once in the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha, she is pure. The Saṅgha ordains this person of such-and-such a name, with such-and-such a name as her preceptor. To whichever venerable one the ordination of this person of such-and-such a name, with such-and-such a name as her preceptor, is agreeable, let him be silent; to whom it is not agreeable, let him speak. This person of such-and-such a name has been ordained by the Saṅgha, with such-and-such a name as her preceptor. It is agreeable to the Saṅgha, therefore it is silent, thus I hold this. Immediately, the shadow should be measured, the season's measure should be told, the division of the day should be told, the assembly time should be told, the bhikkhunīs should be told – to her, the three dependencies and the eight unallowable things should be explained. Now at that time, the bhikkhunīs, moving their seats in the refectory, time They passed the time. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, for eight bhikkhunīs by seniority, for the rest by arrival." Now at that time, the bhikkhunīs— thinking the Blessed One had allowed for eight bhikkhunīs by seniority, for the rest by arrival— everywhere made eight bhikkhunīs go by seniority, the rest by arrival. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "I allow, monks, at the meal hall for eight bhikkhunīs by seniority, for the rest by arrival; elsewhere, everywhere, it should not be by seniority. Whoever does so, incurs an offense of wrong-doing." Now at that time, the bhikkhunīs did not invite. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a bhikkhunī should not fail to invite. Whoever does not invite, should be dealt with according to the Dhamma." Now at that time, the bhikkhunīs, having invited themselves, did not invite the Bhikkhu Saṅgha. They reported this matter to the Blessed One. "Monks, a bhikkhunī, having invited herself, should not fail to invite the Bhikkhu Saṅgha. Whoever does not invite, should be dealt with according to the Dhamma."