Nuns’ Expiation (Pācittiya) 81 (PLI-TV-BI-VB-PC81)

… at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove at the squirrels’ feeding place. Now at that time the nun Thullanandā thinking: “I will ordain a probationer,” having had monks who were elders convened, having seen sumptuous solid foods and soft foods, saying: “Masters, I will not ordain the probationer yet,” having dismissed the monks who were elders, having had Devadatta, Kokālika, Kaṭamorakatissaka, the son of the lady Khaṇḍā and Samuddadatta convened, she ordained the probationer. Those who were modest nuns … spread it about, saying: “How can the lady Thullanandā ordain a probationer by showing favouritism to (monks) placed on probation?” …

“Is it true, as is said, monks, that the nun Thullanandā ordained a probationer by showing favouritism to (monks) placed on probation?”

“It is true, lord.”

The enlightened one, the lord, rebuked them, saying: “How, monks, can the nun Thullanandā … (monks) placed on probation? It is not, monks, for pleasing those who are not (yet) pleased … this rule of training:

“Whatever nun should ordain a probationer by showing favouritism to (monks) placed on probation, there is an offence of expiation.”

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

By showing favouritism to (monks) placed on probation means: to a company that has risen.

Probationer means: … Bi-Pc.80.2 … and an offence of wrong-doing for the group and for the woman teacher.

There is no offence if she ordains her if the company has not risen; 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

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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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