尼羯磨 1.68

1.68

“Ānanda! Now I establish eight principles for women that must not be transgressed as long as life lasts; if they can practice them, that constitutes receiving ordination. What are the eight? Even a bhikṣuṇī of one hundred years [of standing], upon seeing a newly ordained bhikṣu, should rise to welcome him, pay homage, spread a clean seat for him, and invite him to sit; such a Dharma should be respected, revered, and praised, and must not be transgressed as long as life lasts. A bhikṣuṇī must not scold or rebuke a bhikṣu, nor slander him, saying, ‘[You have] broken the precepts, broken [right] view, or broken deportment’; such a Dharma should be respected, etc. (as above). A bhikṣuṇī must not bring accusations, remind [of offences], or extract confessions from a bhikṣu, nor obstruct him in seeking an offence, obstruct his poṣadha, or obstruct his pravāraṇā; a bhikṣuṇī must not rebuke a bhikṣu, but a bhikṣu may rebuke a bhikṣuṇī; such a Dharma should be respected, etc. (as above). A śikṣamāṇā, having trained in the precepts, requests upasampadā from the bhikṣu-saṃgha; such a Dharma should be respected, etc. (as above). A bhikṣuṇī who commits a saṃghāvaśeṣa offence must undergo mānāpya in both saṃghas; such a Dharma should be respected, etc. (as above). Every half-month, a bhikṣuṇī requests instruction from the [bhikṣu-]saṃgha; such a Dharma should be respected, etc. (as above). A bhikṣuṇī must not spend the rains retreat in a place where there are no bhikṣus; this Dharma should be respected, etc. (as above). When the bhikṣuṇī-saṃgha has completed the rains retreat, they should request pravāraṇā in the bhikṣu-saṃgha in respect of three matters: what has been seen, heard, and suspected; such a Dharma should be respected, etc. (as above). In this way, Ānanda, I now declare these eight garudharmas: if a woman is able to practice them, that constitutes receiving ordination, just as someone builds a bridge across a great body of water to cross it. In this way, Ānanda! I now declare these eight garudharmas for women; if they can practice them, that constitutes receiving ordination.” At that time, Ānanda, having heard the World-Honoured One's instruction, immediately went to Mahāprajāpatī's place and spoke to her, saying, “Women are permitted to go forth and receive upasampadā in the Buddha's Dharma. The World-Honoured One has established eight garudharmas for women; if you can practice them, that constitutes receiving ordination.” (He then expounded the eight matters to her as above.) Mahāprajāpatī said, “If the World-Honoured One has declared these eight garudharmas for women, I together with the five hundred Śākya women shall receive them respectfully upon our heads.” Ānanda returned again and reported to the Buddha. The Buddha said, “So it is, Ānanda! Mahāprajāpatī and the five hundred women have obtained ordination.” He further told Ānanda, “If women had not gone forth in the Buddha's Dharma, the Buddha's Dharma would have endured for five hundred years longer.” Ānanda, hearing this, was displeased, harboring regret and sorrow in his heart; weeping with tears streaming down, he stepped forward, bowed to the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him, and departed.