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X, 1, 6.
ON THE DUTIES OF BHIKKHUNIS. - 325
'Just, Ananda, as a man or a woman, when young and of tender years, accustomed to adorn himself, would, when he had bathed his head, receive with both hands a garland of lotus flowers, or of jasmine flowers, or of atimuttaka flowers, and place it on the top of his head; even so do I, Ânanda, take ypon me these Eight Chief Rules, never to be transgressed my life long.'
6. Then the venerable Ånanda returned to the Blessed One, and bowed down before him, and took his seat on one side. And, so sitting, the venerable Ånanda said to the Blessed One: - Mahâ-pagâpati the Gotami, Lord, has taken upon herself the Eight Chief Rules, the aunt of the Blessed One has received the upasam pada initiation.'
'If, Ânanda, women had not received permission to go out from the household life and enter the homeless state, under the doctrine and discipline proclaimed by the Tathagata, then would the pure religion, Ånanda, have lasted long, the good law would have stood fast for a thousand years. But since, Ananda, women have now received that permission, the pure religion, Ânanda, will not now last so long, the good law will now stand fast for only five hundred years. Just, Ananda, as houses in which there are many women and but few men are easily violatedby robber burglarss; just so, Ânanda, under
1 Bahutthikâni. The context shows that we are to understand itthi and not attha. Compare Rockhill's 'Life of the Buddha,'p. 61.
Suppadhamsiyâni. Compare Bhikkhunî Vibhanga, Samghadisesa III, 1, 2, and see also Kullavagga VII, 5, 4.
Korehi kumbatthenakehi; on which Buddhaghosa has the following note :-Kumbathenakehi ti kumbhe dîpam gâletvå ena alokena paraghare bhandam vikinitva thenakakorebi.
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