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Tenth Khandhaka. Chapter 22

22.

1.
Now at that time a courtesan named A"d"dh"aks 3 had adopted the religious life under the Bhikkhuns, and she wanted to go to Svatthi to be received as full member of the Order (to receive the upasampad initiation) by the Blessed One himself. And men of abandoned life heard of it, and beset the road. And when A"d"dh"aks, the courtesan, heard that they had done so, she sent a messenger to the Blessed One, saying: 'I want to receive the upasampad 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 upasampad initiation (upon Bhikkhuns) 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 upasampad initiation on a Bhikkhun by sending a Bhikkhu as messenger. Whosoever does so, shall be guilty of a dukka"t"a.'

They conferred it by sending a female student..... a male novice..... a female novice..... an ignorant, incompetent Bhikkhun, as the messenger.

[Similar decision in each case.]

'I allow you, O Bhikkhus, to confer the upasampad initiation by sending a learned, competent Bhikkhun, as a messenger.'

3.
'That Bhikkhun messenger is to go before the Sa"m"gha, and arranging her robe over one shoulder, is to bow down before the Sa"m"gha, and sitting on her heels, to stretch forth her joined palms, and say "N. N., having been desirous of receiving the upasampad initiation with the lady, M. M. (as her proposer), has received it on the one hand from the Bhikkhun-sa"m"gha, and has there been declared free (from the Disqualifications 1). But she is prevented by some danger or other from coming before the Sa"m"gha (to have her initiation confirmed) 2. N. N. asks the Sa"m"gha for initiation, Let the Sa"m"gha 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 Sa"m"gha. "Let the Sa"m"gha, venerable Sirs, hear me. N. N., having been desirous..... [statement of fact, as before]. If it seem meet to the Sa"m"gha, let the Sa"m"gha confer the upasampad initiation upon N. N., M. M. being her proposer. That is the motion.

'"Let the Sa"m"gha, venerable Sirs, hear me. N. N.,.... [statement of fact, as before]. The Sa"m"gha hereby confers the upasampad initiation upon N. N., M. M. being her proposer. Whosoever of the venerable ones approves ther, let him keep silence. Whosoever approves not ther, 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 Sa"m"gha has hereby conferred the upasampad initiation upon N. N., M. M. being her proposer. The Sa"m"gha approves ther. 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 Bhikkhun) what season and what date it is, tell her what part of the day it is, tell her the whole formula; and tell the Bhikkhuns 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 Mahvagga VIII, 2 (and see also Viii, 1, 1, and 3).

360:4
As set out in "K"ullavagga I, 1; Mahvagga I, 35, 6.

360:5
The ordinary rule, no doubt, required, as in the case of Bhikkhus, p. 361 a Sa"m"gha of not less than ten persons (Mahvagga I, 31, 2, and Ix, 4, 1), each of ten years standing or more (Mahvagga I, 31, 8). But even for Bhikkhus there were, under special circumstances, certain relaxations of this rule (Mahvagga 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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