Pācittīya Vagga 7

Vinayapiṭaka · Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga · Vol. 3 · Section 364

[364] At that time the Buddha, the Blessed One, was dwelling at Sāvatthī, in the Jeta Grove, in Anāthapiṇḍika's park. Now at that time bhikkhunīs ordained (vuṭṭhāpenti) a pregnant woman. She walked for alms. People said thus: "Give alms to the lady; the lady is heavy with child." People criticized, complained, and spread it about: "How indeed can bhikkhunīs ordain a pregnant woman?" The bhikkhunīs heard those people criticizing, complaining, and spreading it about. Those bhikkhunīs who were of few wishes … they criticized, complained, and spread it about: "How indeed can bhikkhunīs ordain a pregnant woman?" … "Is it true, as they say, bhikkhus, that bhikkhunīs ordain a pregnant woman?" "It is true, Blessed One." The Buddha, the Blessed One, rebuked them: "How indeed, bhikkhus, can bhikkhunīs ordain a pregnant woman? This, bhikkhus, is not for the arousing of confidence in those without confidence … And thus, bhikkhus, let the bhikkhunīs recite this training rule: "Should any bhikkhunī ordain a pregnant woman, there is an offense entailing confession (pācittiya)."

English translation from the Pali (Siam Raṭṭha edition) — under review, not for citation.

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