At one time the Buddha was staying at Sāvatthī in the Jeta Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s Monastery. At that time the nuns were giving the full admission to unmarried women less than twenty years old. They were unable to endure cold and heat; hunger and thirst; contact with horseflies, mosquitoes, wind, the burning sun, and creeping animals and insects; rude and unwelcome speech; and they were unable to bear up with bodily feelings that are painful, severe, sharp, and destructive of life. The nuns of few desires complained and criticized them, “How can nuns give the full admission to unmarried women less than twenty years old?” … “Is it true, monks, that nuns do this?” “It’s true, sir.” The Buddha rebuked them … “How can nuns do this? An unmarried woman less than twenty years old is unable to endure cold and heat; hunger and thirst; contact with horseflies, mosquitoes, wind, the burning sun, and creeping animals and insects; rude and unwelcome speech; and she’s unable to bear up with bodily feelings that are painful, severe, sharp, and destructive of life. But an unmarried woman who is twenty years old is able to endure these things. This will affect people’s confidence …” … “And, monks, the nuns should recite this training rule like this:

Final ruling