116. （一一六）瞿昙弥经

I have heard thus:

At one time, the Buddha was traveling in the Śākya country, staying in the Nyagrodha Park in Kapilavastu, together with a great assembly of bhikṣus, spending the summer retreat.

At that time, Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī went to where the Buddha was, bowed her head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said, "World-Honored One! Can women attain the fourth fruit of the śramaṇa? For this reason, can women in this true teaching and discipline, with utmost faith, leave home, become homeless, and practice the path?"

The World-Honored One said, "Stop! Stop! Gautamī! Do not think like this: 'Women in this true teaching and discipline, with utmost faith, leave home, become homeless, and practice the path.' Gautamī! In this way, you should shave your head, wear the monastic robes, and practice pure conduct for the rest of your life."

Then Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī, being restrained by the Buddha, bowed her head at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him three times, and departed.

At that time, the bhikṣus were mending the Buddha's robes. The World-Honored One had not long completed the summer retreat at Śrāvastī, and after mending the robes, he had passed the three months. He put on his robe, took his alms bowl, and was about to travel among the people. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī heard that the bhikṣus were mending the Buddha's robes. The World-Honored One had not long completed the summer retreat at Śrāvastī, and after mending the robes, he had passed the three months. He put on his robe, took his alms bowl, and was about to travel among the people. Having heard this, Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī again went to where the Buddha was, bowed her head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said, "World-Honored One! Can women attain the fourth fruit of the śramaṇa? For this reason, can women in this true teaching and discipline, with utmost faith, leave home, become homeless, and practice the path?"

The World-Honored One also said twice, "Stop! Stop! Gautamī! Do not think like this: 'Women in this true teaching and discipline, with utmost faith, leave home, become homeless, and practice the path.' Gautamī! In this way, you shave your hair, put on the monastic robes, and practice pure conduct for the rest of your life."

Then Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī was again restrained by the Buddha. She bowed her head at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him three times, and left.

At that time, the World-Honored One had completed the summer retreat at Śrāvastī, repaired his robes, and after three months, took up his robe and bowl and traveled through the human world. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī heard that the World-Honored One had completed the summer retreat at Śrāvastī, repaired his robes, and after three months, took up his robe and bowl and traveled through the human world. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī then followed the Buddha together with the elderly Śākya women, gradually arriving at Nādikā, where they stayed at the Nādikā nunnery. Then Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī again went to where the Buddha was, bowed her head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, and said, "World-Honored One! Can women attain the fourth fruit of the śramaṇa? Is it because of this that women in this true teaching and discipline, with utmost faith, leave home, become homeless, and practice the path?"

The World-Honored One said up to the third time, "Stop! Stop! Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! Do not think like this: 'Women in this true teaching and discipline, with utmost faith, leave home, become homeless, and practice the path.' Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! In this way, you shave your head, wear the monastic robes, and practice pure conduct for the rest of your life."

Then Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī was restrained by the World-Honored One three times. She bowed her head at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him three times, and left.

At that time, Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī walked barefoot, her feet were dirty, her body was covered in dust, and she was exhausted and weeping, standing outside the gate. Venerable Ānanda saw Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī walking barefoot, her feet were dirty, her body was covered in dust, and she was exhausted and weeping, standing outside the gate. Seeing this, he asked, "Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī, why are you walking barefoot, your feet are dirty, your body is covered in dust, and you are exhausted and weeping, standing outside the gate?"

Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī replied, "Venerable Ānanda, women cannot attain the supreme path of the right Dharma and Vinaya by leaving home and becoming homeless."

Venerable Ānanda said, "Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī, please wait here for a moment. I will go to the Buddha and inform him of this matter."

Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī replied, "Yes, Venerable Ānanda!"

Then Venerable Ānanda went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, joined his palms towards the Buddha, and said, "World-Honored One! Can women attain the fourth fruit of the Śramaṇa? Is it because of this that women can attain the supreme faith, leave home, become homeless, and practice the path in this true teaching and discipline?"

The World-Honored One said, "Stop, stop! Ānanda! Do not think like this: 'Women can attain the supreme faith, leave home, become homeless, and practice the path in this true teaching and discipline.' Ānanda! If women were to attain the supreme faith, leave home, become homeless, and practice the path in this true teaching and discipline, it would not allow this pure practice to last long. Ānanda! It is like a household with many daughters and few sons. Would this household be able to flourish?"

Venerable Ānanda said, "No, World-Honored One!"

"So it is, Ānanda! If women were to attain the supreme faith, leave home, become homeless, and practice the path in this true teaching and discipline, it would not allow this pure practice to last long. Ānanda! It is like weeds growing in a rice field or wheat field, which will surely destroy the field. So it is, Ānanda! If women were to attain the supreme faith, leave home, become homeless, and practice the path in this true teaching and discipline, it would not allow this pure practice to last long."

Venerable Ānanda again said, "World-Honored One! Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī has greatly benefited the World-Honored One. Why is that? After the World-Honored One's mother passed away, Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī raised the World-Honored One."

The World-Honored One said, "So it is, Ānanda! So it is, Ānanda! Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī has greatly benefited me, for after my mother passed away, she raised me. Ānanda! I have also greatly benefited Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī. Why is that? Ānanda! Because of me, Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī has taken refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha, has no doubts about the Three Jewels and the truths of suffering, origin, cessation, and path, has attained faith, upholds the precepts, studies widely, practices generosity and attains wisdom, abstains from killing and abandons killing, abstains from taking what is not given and abandons taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct and abandons sexual misconduct, abstains from false speech and abandons false speech, abstains from alcohol and abandons alcohol. Ānanda! If someone, because of another person, takes refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha, has no doubts about the Three Jewels and the truths of suffering, origin, cessation, and path, attains faith, upholds the precepts, studies widely, practices generosity and attains wisdom, abstains from killing and abandons killing, abstains from taking what is not given and abandons taking what is not given, abstains from sexual misconduct and abandons sexual misconduct, abstains from false speech and abandons false speech, abstains from alcohol and abandons alcohol, Ānanda! Even if that person were to provide that person with robes, food and drink, bedding, and medicine for the rest of their life, they would not be able to repay their kindness.

Ānanda! I now establish eight rules for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives. Ānanda! It is like a fisherman or his disciple digging a deep pond to protect the water from flowing out. In the same way, Ānanda! I now speak these eight rules for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives. What are the eight? Ānanda! A bhikṣuṇī should seek full ordination from a bhikṣu. Ānanda! I establish this first rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Ānanda! A bhikṣuṇī should go to a bhikṣu every half month to receive instruction. Ānanda! I establish this second rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Ānanda! If there are no bhikṣus in a place where one resides, a bhikṣuṇī should not spend the rainy season there. Ānanda! I establish this third rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Ānanda! After completing the rainy season retreat, a bhikṣuṇī should request three things from both communities: to see, hear, and doubt. Ānanda! I establish this fourth rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Ānanda! If a bhikṣu does not allow a bhikṣuṇī to ask questions, then a bhikṣuṇī should not ask a bhikṣu about the sūtras, vinaya, or abhidharma. If he allows her to ask, then a bhikṣuṇī may ask about the sūtras, vinaya, or abhidharma. Ānanda! I establish this fifth rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Ānanda! A bhikṣuṇī should not speak about a bhikṣu's offenses, but a bhikṣu may speak about a bhikṣuṇī's offenses. Ānanda! I establish this sixth rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Ānanda! If a bhikṣuṇī commits a saṃghāvaśeṣa offense, she should perform the mānatva penance for fifteen days in both the bhikṣu and bhikṣuṇī saṃghas. Ānanda! I establish this seventh rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Ānanda! Even if a bhikṣuṇī has received full ordination for a hundred years, she should still bow her head to the ground and pay homage to a bhikṣu who has just received full ordination, showing respect and serving him, joining her palms and greeting him. Ānanda! I establish this eighth rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Ānanda! I establish these eight rules for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives. Ānanda! If Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī upholds these eight rules, she may go forth in this true teaching and discipline, receive full ordination, and become a bhikṣuṇī.

Then Venerable Ānanda, having heard the Buddha's words, received them well and upheld them well. He bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him three times, and departed. He went to Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī and said, "Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! Women may go forth in this true teaching and discipline, with true faith, leave home, and learn the path. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! The World-Honored One has established these eight rules for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives. What are the eight? Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! A bhikṣuṇī should seek full ordination from a bhikṣu. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! The World-Honored One has established this first rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! A bhikṣuṇī should go to a bhikṣu every half month to receive instruction. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! The World-Honored One has established this second rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! If there are no bhikṣus in a place where one is staying, a bhikṣuṇī should not spend the rainy season there. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! The World-Honored One has established this third rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! After completing the rainy season retreat, a bhikṣuṇī should request three things from both the bhikṣu and bhikṣuṇī saṃghas: to see, hear, and doubt. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! The World-Honored One has established this fourth rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! If a bhikṣu does not allow a bhikṣuṇī to ask questions, a bhikṣuṇī should not ask a bhikṣu about the sūtras, vinaya, or abhidharma. If he allows her to ask, a bhikṣuṇī may ask about the sūtras, vinaya, or abhidharma. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! The World-Honored One has established this fifth rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! A bhikṣuṇī should not speak of a bhikṣu's offenses, but a bhikṣu may speak of a bhikṣuṇī's offenses. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! The World-Honored One has established this sixth rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! If a bhikṣuṇī commits a saṃghāvaśeṣa offense, she should perform the mānatva penance for fifteen days in both the bhikṣu and bhikṣuṇī saṃghas. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! The World-Honored One has established this seventh rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! Even if a bhikṣuṇī has received full ordination for a hundred years, she should still bow her head to the feet of a bhikṣu who has just received full ordination, pay homage to him with respect and reverence, and greet him with joined palms. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! The World-Honored One has established this eighth rule for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives.

"Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! The World-Honored One has established these eight rules for women to respect and follow, which women should not violate and should uphold for the rest of their lives. Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī! The World-Honored One has said: 'If Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī upholds these eight rules for women to respect and follow, she may go forth in this true teaching and discipline, receive full ordination, and become a bhikṣuṇī.'"

Then Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī said, "Venerable Ānanda, let me give an analogy. The wise understand the meaning through analogies. Venerable Ānanda, it is like a noble lady, a brahmin lady, a householder lady, or a worker lady, who is beautiful, well-bathed and perfumed, wearing clean and bright clothes, adorned with various ornaments. If someone thinks of her and seeks to benefit, to bring her peace and happiness, and gives her a blue lotus stamen, or a jasmine garland, or a sumana flower stamen, or a pāṭala flower stamen, or an ati-mūrdha flower stamen, she will joyfully receive it with both hands and adorn her head with it. In the same way, Venerable Ānanda, I will uphold for the rest of my life the eight rules for women to respect and follow established by the World-Honored One."

Then Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī went forth in the true teaching and discipline, received full ordination, and became a bhikṣuṇī. At that time, Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī became the leader of the bhikṣuṇīs, and the elder bhikṣuṇīs who were known to the king and had long practiced the holy life went together to Venerable Ānanda, bowed their heads at his feet, and stood to one side. They said, "Venerable Ānanda, please know that these elder bhikṣuṇīs are known to the king and have long practiced the holy life. Those bhikṣus are young and newly ordained, having entered this true teaching and discipline only recently. Please have those bhikṣus bow their heads at the feet of the bhikṣuṇīs according to their seniority, and respectfully serve them, joining their palms and greeting them.

Then Venerable Ānanda said, "Mahāprajāpatī, please wait here. I will go to the Buddha and tell him this matter."

Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī said, "Yes, Venerable Ānanda!"

Then Venerable Ānanda went to where the Buddha was, bowed his head at the Buddha's feet, stood to one side, joined his palms towards the Buddha, and said, "World-Honored One! Today Mahāprajāpatī Gautamī and the elder nuns who are respected by the king, who have practiced the holy life for a long time, came to me together, bowed their heads at my feet, stood to one side, joined their palms, and said to me, 'Venerable Ānanda! These elder nuns who are respected by the king, who have practiced the holy life for a long time, and those young monks who have recently gone forth and entered this true teaching and discipline for only a short while - may these young monks pay homage to the elder nuns according to their seniority, respect them, serve them, and greet them with joined palms.'"

The World-Honored One said, "Stop, stop, Ānanda! Guard this speech and do not speak it. Ānanda, if you knew as I know, you would not speak a single word, let alone speak like this. Ānanda, if women were not allowed to go forth from the household life into homelessness in this true teaching and discipline, the brahmins and householders would spread their robes on the ground and say, 'The diligent śramaṇas can walk on this. The diligent śramaṇas practice what is difficult to practice, bringing long-term benefit, welfare, and happiness to us.' Ānanda, if women were not allowed to go forth from the household life into homelessness in this true teaching and discipline, the brahmins and householders would offer their hair and say, 'The diligent śramaṇas can walk on this. The diligent śramaṇas practice what is difficult to practice, bringing long-term benefit, welfare, and happiness to us.'"

"Ānanda, if women were not allowed to go forth from the household life into homelessness in this true teaching and discipline, the brahmins and householders would offer various foods with their hands to the śramaṇas by the roadside and say, 'Venerables, please accept this food and take it away as you wish, bringing long-term benefit, welfare, and happiness to us.' Ānanda, if women were not allowed to go forth from the household life into homelessness in this true teaching and discipline, the faithful brahmins would see diligent śramaṇas, respectfully embrace them, bring them inside, and offer various goods to the diligent śramaṇas, saying, 'Venerables, please accept this and take it away as you wish, bringing long-term benefit, welfare, and happiness to us.'"

"Ānanda, if women were not allowed to go forth from the household life into homelessness in this true teaching and discipline, the moon and sun, with their great supernatural powers, great majesty, great merit, and great spiritual power, would still not match the spiritual power of diligent śramaṇas, let alone the emaciated non-Buddhist ascetics. Ānanda, if women were not allowed to go forth from the household life into homelessness in this true teaching and discipline, the true teaching would have lasted a thousand years, but now it has lost five hundred years, with only five hundred years remaining. Ānanda, you should know that women cannot do five things. If women were to become Tathāgatas, Arhats, Perfectly Enlightened Ones, or wheel-turning kings, or become Śakra, Māra, or Mahābrahmā, it would be impossible. You should know that men can do five things. If men were to become Tathāgatas, Arhats, Perfectly Enlightened Ones, or wheel-turning kings, or become Śakra, Māra, or Mahābrahmā, it would certainly be possible."

The Buddha spoke thus. Venerable Ānanda and the bhikṣus heard what the Buddha said, and they were delighted and carried it out.

The tenth sūtra, the Sūtra on Gautami, is finished.