Nuns’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 66 (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC66)

… at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove in Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Now at that time nuns ordained a girl married for full twelve years (but) who had not trained for two years in the six rules. These were ignorant, inexperienced, they did not know what was allowable or what was not allowable. Those who were modest nuns … spread it about, saying: “How can these nuns ordain a girl married for full twelve years (but) who has not trained for two years in the six rules?” …

“Is it true, as is said, monks …?” …

The enlightened one, the lord rebuked them, saying: “How, monks, can these nuns ordain … in the six rules? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased …” and having rebuked them, having given reasoned talk, he addressed the monks, saying:

“I allow you, monks, to give a girl married for full twelve years the agreement as to training for two years in the six rules. And thus, monks, should it be given: That girl married for full twelve years, having approached the Order … Bi-Pc.63.1 … should speak thus: ‘Ladies, I, so and so, a girl married for full twelve years, and who am under the lady so and so, request the Order … Bi-Pc.63.1. Instead of probationer read a girl married for full twelve years … So do I understand this.’ That girl married for full twelve years should be told: ‘Speak thus: … Bi-Pc.63.1 …’ “… this rule of training:

“Whatever nun should ordain a girl married for full twelve years (but) who has not trained for two years in the six rules, there is an offence of expiation.”

Whatever means: … nun is to be understood in this case.

Full twelve years means: attained to twelve years.

Girl married means: one cohabiting with a man.

Two years means: …

There is no offence if she ordains a girl married for full twelve years and who has trained for two years in the six rules; if she is mad, if she is the first wrong-doer.

The Book of the Discipline was translated by I.B. Horner.

Digital edition prepared for SuttaCentral by Bhikkhu Sujato

A complete digital edition can be downloaded here.

Published in 2014 by SuttaCentral.

Originally published by the Pali Text Society in the following years:

Vol. 1: 1938

Vol. 2: 1940

Vol. 3: 1942

Vol. 4: 1951

Vol. 5: 1950

Vol. 6: 1966

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