Vinaya Pitaka (3): Khandhaka
by I. B. Horner | 2014 | 386,194 words | ISBN-13: 9781921842160
The English translation of the Khandhaka: the second book of the Pali Vinaya Pitaka, one of the three major ‘baskets’ of Therevada canonical literature. It is a collection of various narratives. The English translation of the Vinaya-pitaka (third part, khandhaka) contains many Pali original words, but transliterated using a system similar to the I...
Allowance for ordination twenty years from conception
Kd.1.75.1 Now at that time the venerable Kassapa the Boy[1] became ordained twenty years after his conception. Then it occurred to the venerable Kassapa the Boy: “It is laid down by the BD.4.120 Lord that an individual who is under twenty years of age should not be ordained,[2] and I am twenty years from my conception. Now am I ordained[3] or am I not ordained?” They told this matter to the Lord. He said:
“When in his mother’s womb the first thought has arisen, the first consciousness appeared,[4] his birth is (to be reckoned as) from that time. I allow you, monks, to ordain one who is twenty years of age from his conception.”
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Kumārakassapa. Kumāra has the meaning both of boy and of prince. Kumārakassapa “went forth” when he was only seven years old and he had been reared by a king since his birth by a nun; see AN-a.i.284, MN-a.ii.120, Thag-a. (Psalms of the Bretheren p.147f.), Dhp-a.iii.144, Ja.i.148. Verses are ascribed to him at Thag.201–202. Called “chief of those who are versatile speakers” at AN.i.24. The Vammīki Sutta (MN.i.142) was spoken to Kumārakassapa; the Nigrodhamigajātaka (Ja.no.12) and Dhp.160 on account of his mother.