1. Now at that time a courtesan named Addhakâsî 3 had adopted the religious life
under the Bhikkhunîs, and she wanted to go to Sâvatthi to be received as full
member of the Order (to receive the upasampadâ initiation) by the Blessed One
himself. And men of abandoned life heard of it, and beset the road. And when
Addhakâsî, the courtesan, heard that they had done so, she sent a messenger to
the Blessed One, saying: 'I want to receive the upasampadâ initiation: what
course of action should I adopt?'
Then the Blessed One, in that connection, addressed the Bhikkhus, after
delivering a religious discourse 4, and said: 'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to
confer the upasampadâ initiation (upon Bhikkhunîs) even by a messenger 5.'
p. 361
2. They conferred it by (sending) a Bhikkhu as the messenger.
They told this matter to the Blessed One.
'You are not, O Bhikkhus, to confer the upasampadâ initiation on a Bhikkhunî by
sending a Bhikkhu as messenger. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a
dukkata.'
They conferred it by sending a female student . . . . . a male novice . . . . .
a female novice . . . . . an ignorant, incompetent Bhikkhunî, as the messenger.
[Similar decision in each case.]
'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to confer the upasampadâ initiation by sending a
learned, competent Bhikkhunî, as a messenger.'
3. 'That Bhikkhunî messenger is to go before the Samgha, and arranging her robe
over one shoulder, is to bow down before the Samgha, and sitting on her heels,
to stretch forth her joined palms, and say "N. N., having been desirous of
receiving the upasampadâ initiation with the lady, M. M. (as her proposer), has
received it on the one hand from the Bhikkhunî-samgha, and has there been
declared free (from the Disqualifications 1). But she is prevented by some
danger or other from coming before the Samgha (to have her initiation confirmed)
2. N. N. asks the Samgha for initiation, Let the Samgha raise her up (out of the
worldly life) out of compassion upon her.' [To be said thrice.]
p. 362
'Then let a learned, competent Bhikkhu lay the motion before the Samgha. "Let
the Samgha, venerable Sirs, hear me. N. N., having been desirous . . . . .
[statement of fact, as before]. If it seem meet to the Samgha, let the Samgha
confer the upasampadâ initiation upon N. N., M. M. being her proposer. That is
the motion.
'"Let the Samgha, venerable Sirs, hear me. N. N., . . . . [statement of fact, as
before]. The Samgha hereby confers the upasampadâ initiation upon N. N., M. M.
being her proposer. Whosoever of the venerable ones approves thereof, let him
keep silence. Whosoever approves not thereof, let him speak. And a second time I
say the same thing. N. N., . . . . . (&c., down to) let him speak. And a third
time I say the same thing. N. N., . . . . . (&c., down to) let him speak.
'"The Samgha has hereby conferred the upasampadâ initiation upon N. N., M. M.
being her proposer. The Samgha approves thereof. Therefore is it silent. Thus do
I understand."'
'Then, further, let them (the Bhikkhus) measure the shadow, tell (the messenger
that she may tell the newly-received Bhikkhunî) what season and what date it is,
tell her what part of the day it is, tell her the whole formula; and tell the
Bhikkhunîs to teach her what are the three things allowed, and what are the
eight things interdicted 1.'
Footnotes
360:3 On the meaning of this nickname or epithet, compare our note on Mahâvagga
VIII, 2 (and see also VIII, 1, 1, and 3).
360:4 As set out in Kullavagga I, 1; Mahâvagga I, 35, 6.
360:5 The ordinary rule, no doubt, required, as in the case of Bhikkhus, p. 361
a Samgha of not less than ten persons (Mahâvagga I, 31, 2, and IX, 4, 1), each
of ten years standing or more (Mahâvagga I, 31, 8). But even for Bhikkhus there
were, under special circumstances, certain relaxations of this rule (Mahâvagga
V, 13, II).
361:1 See above, X, 17, 1, for the twenty-four Disqualifications.
361:2 Compare above, X, 1, 4, and X, 17.
362:1 See above, X, 17, 8.
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