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Bu Pc 65

65. The training rule on less than twenty years old

65. Ūnavīsativassasikkhāpada

from: The Great Analysis

The chapter on offenses entailing confession The subchapter on containing living beings

65. The training rule on less than twenty years old

Origin story

At one time the Buddha was staying at Rājagaha in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrel sanctuary. At that time in Rājagaha there was a group of seventeen boys who were friends, with Upāli as their leader.

Upāli’s parents considered, “How can we make sure that Upāli is able to live happily without exhausting himself after we’ve passed away? He could become a clerk, but then his fingers will hurt. Or he could become an accountant, but then his chest will hurt. Or he could become a banker, but then his eyes will hurt. But these Sakyan monastics have pleasant habits and a happy life. They eat nice food and sleep in beds sheltered from the wind. If Upāli goes forth with them, he’ll be able to live happily without exhausting himself after we’ve passed away.”

Upāli overheard this conversation between his parents. He then went to the other boys and said, “Come, let’s go forth with the Sakyan monastics.”

“If you go forth, so will we.”

The boys went each to his own parents and said, “Please allow me to go forth into homelessness.” Since the parents knew that the boys all had the same desire and good intention, they gave their approval. The boys then went to the monks and asked for the going forth. And the monks gave them the going forth and the full ordination.

Soon afterwards they got up early in the morning and cried, “Give us congee, give us a meal, give us fresh food.”

The monks said, “Wait until it gets light. If any of that becomes available then, you can have it. If not, you’ll eat after walking for alms.”

But they carried on as before. And they defecated and urinated on the furniture.

After rising early in the morning, the Buddha heard the sound of those boys. He asked Venerable Ānanda, who told him what was happening. Soon afterwards the Buddha had the Sangha gathered and questioned the monks: “Is it true, monks, that the monks give the full ordination to people they know are less than twenty years old?”

“It’s true, sir.”

The Buddha rebuked them … “How can those foolish men do this? A person who is less than twenty years old is unable to endure cold and heat; hunger and thirst; horseflies, mosquitoes, wind, and the burning sun; creeping animals and insects; and rude and unwelcome speech. And they are unable to bear up with bodily feelings that are painful, severe, sharp, and destructive of life. But a person who’s twenty is able to endure these things. This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, this training rule should be recited like this:

Final ruling

‘If a monk gives the full ordination to a person he knows is less than twenty years old, he commits an offense entailing confession. Moreover, that person has not received the full ordination and those monks are blameworthy.’”

Definitions

A: whoever … Monk: … The monk who has been given the full ordination by a unanimous Sangha through a legal procedure consisting of one motion and three announcements that is irreversible and fit to stand—this sort of monk is meant in this case. He knows: he knows by himself or others have told him or the candidate has told him. Less than twenty years old: who has not reached twenty years.

If, intending to give the full ordination, he searches for a group, a teacher, a bowl, or a robe, or he establishes a monastery zone, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. After the motion, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. After each of the first two announcements, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. When the last announcement is finished, the preceptor commits an offense entailing confession, while the group and the teacher commit an offense of wrong conduct.

Permutations

If the other person is less than twenty years old, and he perceives them as less, and he gives them the full ordination, he commits an offense entailing confession. If the other person is less than twenty years old, but he is unsure of it, and he gives them the full ordination, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the other person is less than twenty years old, but he perceives them as more, and he gives them the full ordination, there is no offense.

If the other person is more than twenty years old, but he perceives them as less, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the other person is more than twenty years old, but he is unsure of it, he commits an offense of wrong conduct. If the other person is more than twenty years old, and he perceives them as more, there is no offense.

Non-offenses

There is no offense: if he gives the full ordination to someone less than twenty years old, but he perceives them as more than twenty; if he gives the full ordination to someone more than twenty years old, and he perceives them as more than twenty; if he is insane; if he is the first offender.

The training rule on less than twenty years old, the fifth, is finished.

Translation: English (Bhikkhu Brahmali). Source: SuttaCentral / Bilara (public domain, CC0).

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