Maha Buddhavamsa - Tathagata Settled in Vesali

Maha Buddhavamsa
The Great Chronicle of The Buddhas
by Tipitakadhara Mingun Sayadaw

Tathagata Settled in Vesali
During the Fifth Vassa

After completing his duties as a Buddha
by expound Mahàsamaya Sutta, Sammàparibbàjaniya
Sutta, etc. to the five hundred Arahanta descendants of Sakya
and helping seven hundred thousand crore gods and Brahmas reached
Arahatta-Phala, and uncountable amount to reach three
lower level, as described previously,
Tathagata is settled in the Vihara Kutagara which has a terrace
roofed and has a domed roof in the Vesali kingdom to
undergo his fifth vassa.


Two Forest That Named Mahavana

(There are two forest that has name Mahavana; one near
Kapilavatthu and the other near Vesali. One of them
(Where the Buddha preached the Mahàsamaya Sutta) near
Kapilavatthu which extent from the edge of Kapilavatthu to the Himalayas in
one side and up to reach the ocean on the other side. While
which is near Vesali is wilderness that has border
sign on each side).


His father, King Suddhodana Achieve Arahatta Purity

When the Buddha was serving his fifth rains retreat in the Forest
Mahavana near Vesali, his father, King Suddhodana reach
Nirvana after attaining Arahatta sanctity under a white umbrella
in his golden palace.

Permission to Ordain Women According to Petition of
Stepmother, Mahapajapati Gotami

The stepmother Mahapajapati Gotami had approached the Tathagata since
Buddha's first visit to Kapilavatthu with the application
to be officially ordained and he has applied for
it three times in a row and each time the Tathagata refused
her petition.
Reasons for refusal is because the Tathagata decided to
not easily permit the ordination of women but
only after great effort from the woman to obtain
ordination. Only then they will realize
that being a bhikkhuni is a very difficult and
therefore will maintain the status of bhikkhunis in full
vigilance. Tathagata hope that they appreciate and
appreciate ordination that they get with hard
effort.
So when the stepmother Mahapajapati Gotami filed
that request up to three times to Tathagata in the Vihara
Nigrodha in Kapilavatthu, the application is rejected by the Tathagata
for the reasons previously mentioned. Mahapajapati
Gotami forced to give up hope and returned to the palace.
Now the opportunity came for her to try again
repeat her request when the Tathagata lived in Vesali
to undergo a fifth vassa.
As already mentioned in previous chapters, five hundred monks
which aristocrats blooded before reaching the Arahatta sanctity


received a letter from their former wives to return to
domestic life. The wife is once again sending
letters to those who now have become Arahanta and
pleaded earnestly. But that Arahanta monks
 sends an answer, 'We are no longer in a position
can live the life of the world. '
Five hundred wives who are left to consider
that 'is not appropriate for them to marry again' and
they agreed to come and persuade Mahapajapati
Gotami to try to 'get permission from the Tathagata to
ordained as a bhkkhuni. 'So they grouped
came to the stepmother Mahapajapati Gotami and persuade her.
They reminded her of her failure request in
obtain permission for women to receive the ordination
when the Tathagata dwells in the temple on the occasion Nigrodha
before. Then she asked a barber to
shave off their hair, including her own hair, and
asked the wives to wear clothes dyed so
they look like a bhikkhuni even though they still live
in the palace. Then they made preparations to go
together into the forest in Vesali Mahavana where Tathagata
settled.
The distance between Kapilavatthu and Vesali is fifty yojanas; and
when the family of Sakya kingdom and Koliya prepare
for their journey, they concluded that 'It is impossible
for the princesses of this great and noble journey
on foot 'and they made preparations to
provide five hundred stretcher to solve the problem.
Five hundred women agreed that traveling on a stretcher
such that looks as if lack of respect for the Tathagata
and therefore they make the trip with
walking. The royal family of the two countries prepare
supplies of food at each stop and a number of
guards to escort them all the way to


Vesali.
After going through a difficult journey as much as fifty yojanas,
their smooth legs became swollen by a ruptured ulcer,
they look like covered by the powders from the grain
processing machine. Five hundred women that led
by Mahapajapati Gotami arrive at Vesali with swollen feet,
body covered with soil and dust, stood in groups in front of
Vihara Kutagara gate in the Forest Mahavana. (They do not
dared to enter the vihara).
(Stepmother Mahapajapati Gotami thought that she was wearing bhikkhuni
clothes without the permission from the Tathagata; and news about
her actions have spread throughout the country. Well if
Tathagata allow him to join in the Samgha;
but felt that she would receive a scolding. That is
is why she just stood at the gate, not daring
entrance).
When the Venerable Ananda who saw Mahapajapati Gotami
is sad at the front gate, he went and
asked, "O Majesty's stepmother, why are you so sad?
Is the Kingdom family of Sakya and Koliya undergo the unfortunate
and collapse? Why are you weird dressed like this?
With swollen feet, dirty, pitiful face, and stood while
crying at the gate? "
Mahapajapati Gotami the stepmother replied "Oh ... the Venerable Ananda,
We stood at the gate with drip tears because
failed to obtain permission from the Tathagata to receive ordination
authorized for women as nuns in the Dhamma-
Vinaya. "Ananda comfort her with words of support:
"Stepmother ... if so ... I'm going to persuade the Tathagata in order to
ordain women officially, so that they can
living life as a nun in the Dhamma-Vinaya;
Please wait at the gate until I come back, "and
after saying this, the Venerable Ananda meet the Tathagata


and propose application:
"Tathagata The Exalted ...  Mrs. Mahapajapati Gotami was standing in
gate with swollen feet, her body covered by soil
and dust, her heart wounds, tears streaming down her cheeks in a state
of grieve, because failed to get permission from you so that
women were allowed to receive formal ordination,
so that they can live the life as a nun in
the Sasana. I sincerely request that they be given permission
to receive formal ordination! "
Tathagata replied, "That's not right ... Ananda, I advise
you be lest interested in allowing women
to become a nun. "But with no fear, The
Venerable Ananda propose the same application for second
time, and for the third time, but get a same
answer from Tathagata.

Updated Petition

Venerable Ananda thought of another approach, after three
times tried and failed to get permission to give
ordination to women in the Dhamma-Vinaya, he
then went to the Tathagata and says:
"Tathagata The Exalted ... is it possible for women to achieve
Sottappatti purity, Sakadagami, anagami to Arahatta,
to live a life as a bhikkhuni in the framework
Dhamma-Vinaya Sasana? "
Tathagata replied, "Ananda ... women may be reached
sanctity of Sottappatti, Sakadagami, anagami to Arahatta,
to live a life as a bhikkhuni in the framework
Dhamma-Vinaya Sasana. "
"Tathagata The Exalted ... if women can achieve holiness
of Sottappatti, Sakadagamin, anagamin to Arahanta, with
living life as a bhikkhuni in the framework


Dhamma-Vinaya Sasana, let me ask you a case
worthy of consideration to support the plea:
The Exalted Tathagata ... Mahapajapati Gotami has given
great service to you, other than that, she also thy stepmother. She
was responsible for giving thy food, thy care and keeping
physical and spiritual well-being of you since you were born. She
bathe You by sprinkled scented water twice a day.
In fact, she was responsible for feeding thee with the milk
derived from her own breasts. "
(Mahapajapati Gotami gave birth to Prince Nanda few days
after Mahamaya Devi gave birth to the Bodhisatta. She entrusted
her son to the nurse, and she himself volunteered
act as Bodhisatta nurses: thus this additional
 argument is expressed as the consideration of
his petition).
"The Exalted Tathagata ... I sincerely ask that you
give thy consent that women were allowed to
received ordination as a bhikkhuni in the framework
Dhamma-Vinaya Sasana. "
Ananda Buddha finally granted, with
said, "Ananda, if Mahapajapati received the particular Eight Precepts,
Garu-dhamma, her acceptance will be valid as an ordination
for her. "
Eight special rules are:
(1) A nun, even if she was a senior, has been
hundred years in the Samgha, to give respect, with
geminate hand to a monk, although he
just one day become a monk. This rule applies for the rest
of life.
(2) A bhikkhuni must not undergo vassa in a place that
away from the residence of monks. This regulation applies


lifetime.
(3) Every two weeks, a bhikkhuni must do
two things: ask about the uposatha day to the monks
Samgha and approached the Samgha monks to beg
instruction and reproof.
(4) When the rains retreat was over, a nun must
attended the Pavàranà ceremony in two places, that are Bhikkhu
Sasana and the Bhikkhuni Sasana, and in both places
she must accept the criticism of what is seen, heard,
or what is suspected about her. This regulation applies
lifetime.
(5) A nun who commits an offense Samghadisesa
must undergo a redemption for half a month, pakkha
manatta, in two Sasana, Bhikkhu Sasana and Bhikkhuni
Sasana.
(6) A bhikkhuni must prepare for ordination in the second
place Bhikkhu Sasana and Bhikkhuni Sasana to a
sàmaneri who have had to undergo a trial period of six
Sila practice for two years. This rule applies for the rest
of life.
(7) A bhikkhuni must not rebuke a monk
for whatever reason. This rule applies for life.
(8) A bhikkhuni prohibited from giving advice or warning
to the monks valid since today. The monks otherwise
should advise the nuns at any time if necessary.
This rule is also valid for entire life.
"This is the Eight Special Precepts. If Mahapajapati Gotami receive
this particular Eight Precepts, it applies its acceptance as a
ordination for her. "
Tathagata thus allowing the ordination of nuns in


the Bhikkhuni Sasana after preaching the Eight Special Precepts
as their guidelines.
Ananda studied the Eight Special Precepts from Tathagata
then went back to Mahapajapati Gotami at the gate
and tell what happened at his meeting with
Tathagata:
"Stepmother the noble ... if you accept the Eight Special Precepts
this acceptance will serve as the ordination of you.
Eight special rules are:
(1) A nun, even if she was a senior, has been
hundred years in the Samgha, to give respect, with
geminate hand to a monk, although he
just one day become a monk. This rule applies for the rest
life;
  and so on until
(8) A bhikkhuni prohibited from giving advice or warning
to the monks valid since today. The monks may otherwise
advising nuns at any time if necessary. This rule
also valid for entire life.
Stepmother the noble, you may consider yourself as
one of which is recognized in the Bhikkhuni Sasana, when you
comply with this Eight Special Precepts. "
Mahapajapati Gotami replied, "Venerable Ananda ... like
a girl who has a habit of dressing himself with
flowers with hair washed and combed, will receive
lotus flower gift, Moe-swe or Lai-tu by hand
open, to decorate their heads; so too I'm ready
comply with the Eight Special Precepts, Garu-dhamma, with full
joy and honor to my last breath.
Then Venerable Ananda back toward the Tathagata


with respect and standing in proper place and
said, "The Exalted Tathagata ... Mahapajapati Gotami has promised
to comply with the Eight Special Precepts established, by
diligently and respectfully to the end of her life. "
The wives wept with joy to receive eight
Special precepts which automatically applies the ordination;
she became a nun without formal ordination procedures in the
a sima. Ordination of such a procedure is known as
'Attha garu-Dhamma patiggahana Upasampadà.'
Granted the petition for Bhikkhuni ordination
Mahapajapati stepmother Gotami see the Tathagata and sat
in the proper place, and then he respectfully
asked, "Tathagata The Exalted ... What should I do
with five hundred noblemen's daughters? "Tathagata gives
instructions to him, he went after listening to the Dhamma
and then bowing to Tathagata. Then the Tathagata
informed the monks of instruction
given to Mahapajapati and establish rules
the following:
"Bhikkhus, I allow the monks to help
in ordaining women to become nuns. "
The monks immediately made preparations to ordain
five hundred royal daughter with Mahapajapati Gotami acting
as ordinator (upajjhaya). They are known as' ekataw
upasamsanna 'due to insufficient number of nuns
to participate in the ceremony of nuns ordination.
When the ceremony of consecration is completed, Mahapajapati Gotami reach
Arahatta purity of fruit after listening to the sermon Sankhitta
Sutta (Anguttara), and five hundred nuns managed to achieve
holiness as they wish, from the Sottappatti,
Sakadagamin, anagamin, Arahatta after listening to
Nandakovàda Sutta (Majjhima).


(Ordination of prominent nuns, such as the Queen Yasodhara,
Princess Janapadakalayani, Queen Khema, Dhammadina, the wife of a
rich, Bhaddakapila will be discussed separately when discussing
Samgha gems).